Written questions by Burghart.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Safeguarding the Union, published on 31 January 2024, what progress his Department has made on the implementation of the measures set out in paragraph 43.

The Government is committed to taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market. We continue to make significant progress on measures set out in paragraph 43 of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper. Recent progress includes confirmation of the appointment of Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee as Chair of Intertrade UK; the establishment of the Independent Monitoring Panel; and statutory guidance to public authorities on how they should ensure they have special regard to Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 October 2024 to Question 5643 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, how many requests for public inquiries he is considering.

I have recently considered several requests for public inquiries and decided to ask all the families involved to get in touch with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). The Government will consider any further requests on a case-by-case basis.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Multiply maths initiative.

Multiply is the government’s UK wide programme for improving adult numeracy. Multiply provision spans from supporting to build confidence with numbers through to full maths qualifications.The department provides funding to all local areas in England to deliver adult maths programmes with a focus on improving the functional numeracy of adults, breaking down barriers to participation in adult basic skills, and improving labour market outcomes. The following information therefore relates to the Multiply programme in England.Local areas have welcomed the programme and the flexibility to deliver innovative approaches to drive learner demand. As of April 2024, over 120,000 learners have participated in a Multiply course in England. There was a 5.8% increase in adult participation in education and training in 2022/23 and an increase of 4.6% in 2023/24. Local areas have informed us that most of this rise is driven by Multiply courses.The extensive Multiply programme evaluation is ongoing and will conclude in winter 2025/26.

How many skills bootcamps have been delivered in each of the last three years, by (a) local authority area and (b) discipline.

The department is awaiting finalised data for the 2023/24 financial year from providers so cannot provide data for this year.The department has published separate reports on the implementation of Skills Bootcamps for the 2022/23 (Wave 3) and 2021/22 (Wave 2) financial years, which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66e9a3f824c4f1826d81bcbd/Skills_Bootcamps_Wave_3_Implementation_Report.pdf and here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d5bdfd701781e1b341db13/Evaluation_of_Skills_Bootcamps_Wave_2_Implementation_Report_updated_2024.pdf.These reports include breakdown of Skills Bootcamp starts by region and course type (discipline). The department does not include breakdowns by local authority area in these reports and is referring to Skills Bootcamps starts with these figures.Table 1 (page 21) of Wave 3 report: Breakdown of applicants and starts for Wave 3 and Wave 2 Skills Bootcamps (course type)Table 5 (page 25) of the Wave 3 report: Applications and starts by Government Office RegionTable 4 (page 26) of Wave 2 report: Applications and starts by Government Office RegionTo note:Totals are lower than the reported total starts because some management information (MI) records do not have an accurate postcode, or no postcode listed. Totals also do not reflect any updates to starts figures that the department makes to its published statistics releases, following publication of the implementation report.The number of starts in the Wave 3 MI data is slightly higher than the published starts data which was due to challenges with the HGV data and accurately calculating starts. The starts release was a more conservate estimate of starts compared to the MI.At Wave 2, Rail was classified as part of Skills Bootcamps in Green Skills.

Whether he plans to appeal against the judgment of the Belfast Court of Appeal in the challenge to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, delivered on 20 September 2024.

On 7 October 2024, I laid a Written Ministerial Statement in Parliament providing the Government’s initial response to the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal’s judgment in Dillon & Others. The statement can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-10-07/hcws108. This is a complex and wide-ranging judgment with significant implications. The Government is therefore carefully considering its findings to inform a decision on the way forward.

With reference to page 37 of his Department's publication entitled Transforming public procurement, what progress has been made on readying the Central Digital Platform.

The Central Digital Platform is an online system that will be established by the Procurement Act 2023 to improve transparency and efficiency in public procurement. The Central Digital Platform is currently being developed and will be operational and ready for use when the new procurement regime comes into force on 24 February 2025. Cabinet Office is working with e-procurement systems providers and contracting authorities to ensure their readiness.

What progress he has made with Moderna on the (a) manufacture of mRNA vaccines in the UK, (b) establishment of a global clinical trials base and (c) investment in UK-based research and development activities.

As part of the Moderna-UK Strategic Partnership signed in December 2022, Moderna is building an mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Harwell, Oxfordshire. The Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre will support the United Kingdom to be more resilient in the face of future pandemics and health emergencies. It is expected to become operational in 2025.Moderna is also committed to substantial investment in research and development activities in the UK over the 10-year partnership. This includes running a significant number of clinical trials in the UK and funding grants for UK universities, including PhD places and research programmes.Since the partnership was established, Moderna has launched 13 trials at over 80 sites in England, Scotland, and Wales, including for Mpox, respiratory syncytial virus, and COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna has funded a PhD at the University of Cambridge and four mRNA Access Partnerships across UK universities. This partnership will also create over 150 skilled jobs in the UK.

If she will give further education corporations the same VAT status as Multi Academy Trusts and 16 to 19 Free Schools.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Furthermore, where a school in England has charitable status, the Government will legislate to remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rate relief. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage. This includes independent schools, part-funded by overseas governments, bi-lingual schools, and faith schools. The final policy design will be confirmed at the Budget. A technical note setting out the details, alongside draft VAT legislation, was published in July and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. Business rates are administered by local government. Therefore, local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility for reliefs, including with respect to dual-use locations. Charitable rates relief is available to properties deemed to be ‘wholly or mainly’ used for charitable purposes. Certain properties are exempt from business rates including buildings that are places of public religious worship and buildings used for the training and/or welfare of disabled persons. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for determining whether a property meets the necessary legal requirements to be exempt. Details on final policy decisions regarding the removal of private schools’ eligibility for charitable rate relief will be set out at the Budget.The Government has carefully considered the impact that changes to the tax treatment of private schools will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the Government will confirm its approach to these reforms at the Budget on 30 October, and set out its assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes in a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN). TIINs give a clear explanation of the policy objective, including details of the tax impact on the Exchequer, business, individuals and any equalities impacts.These changes will not affect the VAT status of FE Colleges. Maintained schools are funded by local authorities, who are able to recover their VAT through the s33 VAT refund scheme, which aims to ensure VAT is not a burden on local taxation. Academies can also recover their VAT under s33B, to ensure they are not disincentivised from leaving LA control. FE colleges do not meet the rationale for admission to either refund scheme.

Whether he plans to use 36 Whitehall.

The 36 Whitehall building is not in use and there are no current plans to bring it back into use.

With reference to his oral statement of 11 September 2024 on Patrick Finucane Murder, Official Report, columns 841-3, whether he is considering other requests for public inquiries into incidents from the Troubles.

The Government considers all requests for public inquiries on a case-by-case basis.As I outlined in my oral statement of 11 September 2024, there are exceptional reasons why I have decided to establish an inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 3 September 2024 to Question 1967 on Incubator for Artificial Intelligence, by when he plans to have the agreed full-time headcount of 70 staff employed.

i.AI is building to a full complement of 70FTE. Recruitment was paused due to the pre-election period and will resume shortly.

With reference to her oral statement of 24 July 2024, Official Record, col 697, on Education and Opportunity, what plans her Department has to consult (a) external stakeholders and (b) people who have undertaken T-Levels during its review of post-16 qualification reform at level 3 and below; if she will publish the (i) name of the person leading and (ii) terms of reference for that review.

The department is committed to working to break down barriers to opportunity, harnessing talent and driving growth. In July this year, my Right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced that the department is undertaking an internal review of post-16 qualifications reform and has paused the planned defunding of qualifications that was due to go ahead on 31 July 2024. This was followed by a Written Ministerial Statement on 25 July, which can be read here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-07-25/hcws22.The department understands that the sector needs certainty and will publish the outcomes of this review before Christmas.Stakeholder views from all parts of the system will be important to contribute to the direction of future policy. Later this month departmental officials will begin engaging with providers, including those delivering T levels, awarding organisations and other key stakeholders.In line with this being an internal review we will not publish the terms of reference. My noble Friend, the Minister for Skills is overseeing the review which is being undertaken by officials who the department does not intend to name.

With reference to his oral statement of 11 September 2024 on Patrick Finucane Murder, Official Report, columns 842-3, when he plans to (a) appoint a chair of the inquiry and (b) have agreed terms of reference; and what steps he is taking to avoid unnecessary costs.

The Government will follow due process under the Inquiries Act 2005 in establishing the inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane. This will include the appointment of the Inquiry Chair and consulting him on the Terms of Reference.As outlined in my oral statement of 11 September 2024, I have considered the likely costs and impact on the public finances. It is the Government’s expectation that the inquiry will - while doing everything that is required to discharge the State’s human rights obligations - avoid unnecessary costs given all the previous reviews and investigations and the large amount of information and material that is already in the public domain.

What steps she is taking to support colleges and schools to (a) adopt T-levels and (b) expand their T-levels programmes in their settings in the 2025-26 academic year.

The government is committed to supporting the continued roll-out of T Levels to ensure young people have a choice of high quality options post-16.T Level providers have access to a suite of support and resources to help them prepare for and deliver T Levels. This includes workforce support from the Education and Training Foundation, which helps with the teaching skills, subject knowledge and industry skills needed for successful T Level delivery. Further information about the resources available to T Level providers can be found here: https://support.tlevels.gov.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/13561653292818-New-resources-for-schools-and-colleges-added-all-in-one-place.Providers planning to deliver T Levels for the first time can access a support package from the Association of Colleges, including help with planning, organisation and curriculum design.The department has made practical tools and resources available to help providers source and deliver high quality industry placements and all providers have £550 allocated for each T Level student as part of their wider 16-19 funding allocation to help with these costs. T Level funding rates have also been uplifted by 10% for the 2024/25 academic year to help providers expand the number of T Levels offered and the number of students enrolled.The department’s T Level ambassador network continues to champion the T Level programme with members sharing their experiences and passion for technical education. The network now stands at over 700 members including employers, providers, students and other organisations.The department is introducing new T Level foundation qualifications that are specifically designed to support students’ progression to T Levels. Approved qualifications will be available for teaching from 2026.

What recent progress the Expert Advisory Panel for Public History of British Policy During the Northern Ireland Conflict has made.

The advisory panel continues to work under the published terms of reference. I was pleased to meet with the panel on 17 September to discuss details of the project.

With reference to his speech of 7 September 2024, entitled A new chapter in the UK-Ireland relationship, when he plans to set out his plans to increase the independence of the Independent Commission on Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

The High Court found the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) to be independent and capable of conducting human rights compliant investigations. The recent Court of Appeal judgment also recognised the structural independence of the ICRIR, while making declarations of incompatibility with the ECHR which the government is currently considering. I have committed to exploring measures to further strengthen the ICRIR’s independence, and am consulting widely, including with victims, survivors and families, on a practical way forward that can command the broadest support.