Written questions by Rosindell.

What steps she is taking to help reduce youth unemployment.

As part of our plan to Get Britain Working, we are launching a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work. The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education are working closely with the eight Mayoral Strategic Authorities in England, which began mobilising the Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in April 2025. The eight areas delivering Trailblazers are: the West of England, Tees Valley, East Midlands, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Liverpool City Region, West Midlands and two areas within the Greater London Authority. The trailblazers will run for 12 months, and we will use the learning to inform the future design and development of the Youth Guarantee as it rolls-out across the rest of England. This is part of a broader package of reforms, including introduction of a new jobs and careers service to help get more people into work, the development of work, health and skills plans for the economically inactive, and the launch of Skills England to open up new opportunities for young people. We will work in partnership with organisations and businesses at the national and local level to offer exciting and engaging opportunities to young people. This could include work experience, training courses or employability programmes. In addition, DWP continues to provide young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need, nationwide employment programmes and support delivered by work coaches based in our Jobcentres and in local communities working alongside partners.

What steps he has taken with His Majesty’s armed forces to improve the defence of the maritime infrastructure of British Overseas Territories.

The UK is responsible for the defence and security of all British Overseas Territories and takes these responsibilities incredibly seriously. The Ministry Of Defence routinely monitors for hostile activity and will take appropriate action in response to any legitimate threat, including providing high readiness maritime, land and air assets to deter and respond to threats as required. This includes defending our people, our territory, and our infrastructure, as necessary.

If she will make a comparative assessment of the decrease in tobacco duty as set out in HMRC's annual tax receipts bulletin with the ONS smoking prevalence data in (a) 2023 to 2024 and (b) 2024-2025.

In 2023/24 tobacco duty receipts totalled £8,804 million. In 2024/25, tobacco duty receipts fell 10% to £7,926 million. ONS smoking prevalence data is published by calendar year. In 2023 approximately 12% of over 18s in the UK were current smokers. The ONS has yet to publish data on smoking prevalence for 2024.

What steps she is taking to help reduce instances of peer-on-peer physical violence in state secondary schools.

All pupils deserve to feel safe and protected in school and the department expects all schools to take immediate and robust action if incidents of violence occur. The ‘Behaviour in schools’ guidance is clear that staff should respond predictably, promptly, and assertively in accordance with their school behaviour policy. In the most serious cases, suspensions and permanent exclusion may be necessary to ensure that pupils are protected and to maintain safe, calm school environments.The department also supports schools to address incidences of bullying with its guidance, ‘Preventing and tackling bullying’, and has published a research report, ‘Approaches to preventing and tackling bullying’, which includes practical case studies of effective practices to combat bullying.The department is establishing up to 90 new Attendance and Behaviour Hubs, focusing on supporting senior leaders to develop safe, supportive school cultures with high expectations for attendance and behaviour, including using data to identify and address areas of concern. The department has engaged with charities, academics, parents and young people, to understand the issues around bullying. We will use that input to inform ways of testing practice that we can share through hubs.

What steps she has taken with (a) headteachers, (b) local authorities to reduce (a) mould and (b) damp in educational buildings.

The department takes the safety of children and those who work with them incredibly seriously.The department supports responsible bodies, such as local authorities, academy trusts and voluntary-aided bodies and their schools to meet their responsibilities to keep buildings safe and well-maintained, including addressing mould and damp.We do this through providing capital funding, rebuilding programmes and extensive guidance on estate management.We have increased capital funding to improve the condition of school buildings to £2.1 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, which is almost £300 million more than last year. This is in addition to the continuing School Rebuilding Programme.The department has also published Good Estate Management for schools, a guide and toolkit to support responsible bodies and their schools to manage their estates strategically, so that pupils can learn in a safe, effective environment.Responsible bodies should monitor any instances of persistent damp and seek professional advice, as water ingress may be an indicator of a problem with the fabric of the building.

What steps she has taken with relevant authorities to reduce instances of peer-on-peer physical violence in state primary schools.

All pupils deserve to feel safe and protected in school and the department expects all schools to take immediate and robust action if incidents of violence occur. The ‘Behaviour in schools’ guidance is clear that staff should respond predictably, promptly, and assertively in accordance with their school behaviour policy. In the most serious cases, suspensions and permanent exclusion may be necessary to ensure that pupils are protected and to maintain safe, calm school environments.The department also supports schools to address incidences of bullying with its guidance, ‘Preventing and tackling bullying’, and has published a research report, ‘Approaches to preventing and tackling bullying’, which includes practical case studies of effective practices to combat bullying.The department is establishing up to 90 new Attendance and Behaviour Hubs, focusing on supporting senior leaders to develop safe, supportive school cultures with high expectations for attendance and behaviour, including using data to identify and address areas of concern. The department has engaged with charities, academics, parents and young people, to understand the issues around bullying. We will use that input to inform ways of testing practice that we can share through hubs.

What steps she has taken with relevant authorities to improve safeguarding policies in state primary schools.

Schools and colleges have a critical role to play in protecting children and keeping them safe. We published statutory safeguarding guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE) which all schools and colleges must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.Education’s involvement is fundamental at all levels of safeguarding arrangements. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce a measure to place a duty on safeguarding partners to automatically include and strengthen the role of education and childcare settings in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.This legislation ensures the full representation of education and childcare in operational safeguarding boards and systems, as well as at the strategic decision-making levels of safeguarding arrangements. It will also mean that all education and childcare settings must work together with safeguarding partners and ensure those arrangements are fully understood and applied in their organisations.

What steps she has taken with relevant authorities to improve safeguarding policies in state secondary schools.

Schools and colleges have a critical role to play in protecting children and keeping them safe. We published statutory safeguarding guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE) which all schools and colleges must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.Education’s involvement is fundamental at all levels of safeguarding arrangements. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce a measure to place a duty on safeguarding partners to automatically include and strengthen the role of education and childcare settings in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.This legislation ensures the full representation of education and childcare in operational safeguarding boards and systems, as well as at the strategic decision-making levels of safeguarding arrangements. It will also mean that all education and childcare settings must work together with safeguarding partners and ensure those arrangements are fully understood and applied in their organisations.

Representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Commissioners have received reports of financial impropriety at the Additional Curates Society.

The Church Commissioners have not received any reports regarding the Additional Curates Society. As a separate charity, the Additional Curates Society does not come under the remit or management of the Church Commissioners or the National Church Institutions.

What progress his Department has made towards Smokefree 2030.

Smokefree 2030 was Government policy prior to and until the July 2024 General Election. The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will help deliver our current ambition to create a smoke-free generation, gradually ending the sale of tobacco products across the country. Creating a smoke-free generation is expected to help reduce smoking rates of people aged between 14 and 30 years old to near zero by 2050.To support current smokers, an additional £70 million is also being provided in 2025/26 to support local authority-led Stop Smoking Services in England, and the national Swap to Stop scheme, swapping cigarettes for vapes, and Smoke-free Pregnancy Incentives Scheme are also continuing.

If she will make a comparative assessment of (a) HMRC tobacco duty receipts with (b) ONS smoking prevalence data in (i) 2023-2024 and (ii) 2024-2025

In 2023/24, tobacco duty receipts totalled £8,804 million. In 2024/25, tobacco duty receipts fell 10% to £7,926 million.ONS smoking prevalence data has been published up to the calendar year 2023. In that year, approximately 12% of over 18s in the UK were current smokers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide (a) financial and (b) technical support to enable the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena to deliver (i) financial and (ii) banking services to non-residents.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) continues to work closely with the Government of St Helena to strengthen its financial sector and banking services, which have been identified as potential growth sectors.The FCDO provides financial assistance to St Helena through annual financial aid, which supports essential public services and economic development initiatives. This includes funding to help modernise the island's financial infrastructure.The FCDO has facilitated access to technical expertise across the UK Government to help St Helena improve its financial regulatory framework. This includes support for compliance with international standards and enhancements to the island's banking services.The FCDO will continue to engage with the Government of St Helena to explore further opportunities for support. The St Helena Financial Services Regulatory Authority is actively involved to ensure robust oversight.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena has a Public Service Commission to advise the Governor when making appointments to the public service.

St Helena does not have a Public Service Commission. The Governor works closely with the St Helena Government on public service appointments and in accordance with the St Helena Constitution.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to re-issue guidance to local authorities on requests from owners who have exempted their XL Bully dogs to keep their pets in social housing.

Guidance on the ban on XL Bullies is available on GOV.UK In relation to keeping XL Bully dogs in social housing, or other rented accommodation, it is for the housing provider to decide their own policies on whether they permit tenants to keep exempted banned breed types.

Whether (a) she and (b) officials in her Department had discussions with LNER on the (i) commissioning and (ii) publication of the report entitled “Impact of Open Access Operations on LNER – at stations with direct LNER services”, published on 10th April 2025.

Train operators are not required to seek the Department for Transport’s approval for business-as-usual research funded within their approved budgets.

How much LNER paid for the report commissioned from Jacobs consultancy entitled Impact of Open Access Operations on LNER – at stations with direct LNER services, published on 10 April 2025.

The Department does not hold this information.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Governor of Saint Helena decides which positions in the police service are filled by Technical Cooperation Officers.

The budget for all Technical Cooperation Officers (TCO) is set by Saint Helena Government Ministers. The St Helena Government's Technical Cooperation Monitoring Group oversees the budget and TCO appointments. In line with St Helena's Constitution, the Chief of Police reports to the Governor for operational policing matters, and to the Minister for Safety, Security, and Home Affairs for all other matters. TCO bids related to operational policing require the Governor's approval.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2025 to Question 49725 on Saint Helena: Public Finance, what initiatives other than the Tourism Development Fund his Department supports to improve financial self-sufficiency.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is providing £35.79 million in financial aid to St Helena for the 2025/26 fiscal year. The St Helena Government (SHG) allocates a portion of this funding to advance its policy objectives, including attracting investment and increasing revenue. The FCDO also funds the £30 million Economic Development and Investment Programme which supports economic development of St Helena through infrastructure development.  Prioritised jointly with St Helena Government, this will fund projects such as new port facilities in Rupert's Valley, which, when completed, will open the waterfront for new economic activities and opportunities. The funding also supports the St Helena Government's aim to increase the use of renewable energy to help underpin the island's future financial self-sustainability. Other FCDO programmes, including the Overseas Territories Fund, support a range of initiatives, including on climate, essential equipment and technical support which all contribute to St Helena's economic growth.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2025 to Question 49724 on Saint Helena: Police, whether the national average salary for locally recruited police constables includes the salaries of Technical Cooperation Officers.

The national average salary provided in response to Question 49724 did not include salaries for Technical Cooperation Officers (TCO). The St Helena Government sets TCO salaries to compete with the overseas job market and secure candidates with the advanced experience and broader skill sets not yet available locally. In line with The Royal St Helena Police Service's five-year plan, TCOs help build the capacity of local police officers by investing their expertise and providing bespoke training.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49901 on Saint Helena: Aviation, whether the weather causing delayed flights includes wind shear; and whether this was identified as a potential issue prior to the construction of the airport.

Poor weather including cloud cover, high winds and wind shear has on occasion caused delays to scheduled flight services to St Helena Airport. Prior to the airport's construction, the initial expert advice provided to the former Department for International Development (DFID) assessed the risk of wind shear as low. Challenges with turbulence and wind shear were subsequently identified during a series of test flights into the airport in 2016, contributing to the airport's classification as a Category C airport. The FCDO pursued litigation in relation to some of the initial expert advice received, and reached a settlement in January 2019. I cannot comment on the detail of decisions made by the 2010-15 Conservative government.