Written questions by Snowden.

How many defendants in each of the last five years have completed unpaid work as part of a sentence later overturned on appeal.

The table below sets out number of individuals with sentences that terminated in the calendar years between 2021 and 2025, and where there was Unpaid Work completed as part of the sentence itself recorded as having been terminated due to being overturned on appeal:Calendar yearNumber of individuals202192202274202362202464202571These data have been gathered from National Delius (the Probation Service case management system).

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the workloads of prison officers in the North West.

Staffing models in public sector prisons and associated staffing numbers, are reviewed on a routine basis to take account of business changes that may impact on the workload of staff.

On what date (i) HMRC and (ii) ministers in her Department were notified of child benefit claimants incorrectly having benefits stopped due to data sharing with the Home Office.

HMRC use international travel data and other checks to help tackle Child Benefit error and fraud, which is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years. As HMRC scaled up the work through September and into October 2025, it came to HMRC’s attention in mid-October that the removal of the PAYE check had resulted in some customers being incorrectly included in the compliance campaign. HMRC took swift action to reinstate the PAYE check and apply it retrospectively, including no longer suspending payments at the outset of their enquiries. After understanding the issues, HMRC notified Treasury ministers in late October and have kept them fully informed throughout since.

What estimate he has made of the potential economic impact of decisions businesses have made on the basis of the announcement of compulsory digital ID on 26 September 2025 and 13 January 2026.

Development of the policy underpinning the national digital credential is ongoing. We are inviting the public to have their say, including business stakeholders, in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK.

Whether an Equality Impact Assessment was carried out for the Application by Morgan Offshore Wind Limited and Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Limited for an Order Granting Development Consent for the Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms Transmission Assets Project.

A Public Sector Equality Duty Statement forms part of the application for the project, and is available from the Planning Inspectorates website. The Planning Inspectorate is currently finalising its Examination report for this case, which will be submitted on 29 January 2026 to the Secretary of State who then has three months to make the planning decision. All relevant considerations will be taken into account including any equality impacts.

How many recorded offences involving the use of VoIP services there have been in each of the last five years.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales which have been identified as having an online element. Offences involving the use of VoIP services are included but are not separately identifiable in the data held centrally.This data can be found in table C5 of the Crime in England and Wales: Appendix tables here: Crime in England and Wales: Appendix tables - Office for National Statistics.The definition of online crime within this data collection was revised in April 2024 to state that offences involving the use of VoIP services should be flagged to improve clarity and consistency in recording.

What compensation is available to people whose property is damaged as a result of policing operations at neighbouring properties; or properties where suspects are not the legal owners.

Where police have caused damage to property, for example by forcing entry, individuals may be able to claim compensation by raising a complaint or claim with the police force concerned, who will assess the claim in accordance with force policy.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the powers of law enforcement agencies to identify and investigate criminal activity conducted using VoIP services.

Under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, law enforcement agencies can apply for targeted interception warrants, equipment interference warrants, and communications data acquisition authorisations, all of which can enable access to data associated with VoIP services.These powers can enable authorities to identify users, access metadata, and, where authorised, obtain content when necessary and proportionate and subject to satisfying the stringent safeguards within the legislation.This means that law enforcement have a range of powers to identify and investigate criminal activity conducted using VoIP services. The Home Office keeps the effectiveness of these powers under review.

What assessment he has made of the ability of vulnerable groups to participate in consultations on the Morgan and Morecambe offshore windfarm cabling route.

The applicant must carry out a consultation in compliance with the Planning Act 2008 as part of the pre-application procedure for any nationally significant infrastructure project such as this. Applicants, the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State must also ensure compliance with the relevant secondary legislation made under the Planning Act 2008, and have regard to the requirements in the Equality Act 2010 (such as Section 149 ‘Public sector equality duty’), providing accessible engagement opportunities for potentially affected parties, including those in vulnerable groups.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the ability of vulnerable groups to access planning consultations.

Under the Equality Act 2010, all public bodies have a Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) to have due regard to certain equality considerations when exercising their functions, this includes public engagements such as planning consultations. Planning consultations are carried out through a range of methods and local planning authorities are required to publish these on their website. Public authorities must make their website accessible and publish and keep updated an accessibility statement on their website. The duty should always be applied in a proportionate way depending on the circumstances of the case and the seriousness of the potential equality impact.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help prevent the misuse of VoIP services for scam and nuisance calls.

Tackling scam and nuisance calls are a priority for the Government, including via VoIP.Unsolicited direct marketing calls are regulated by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 and enforced by the Information Commissioner. Organisations must not make live marketing calls to a number that is registered on the Telephone Preference Service list or make automated marketing calls unless the recipient has specifically consented to receive them.Government works closely industry and recently published the second Telecommunications Fraud Sector Charter, including actions to strengthen trust in voice communications. The Home Office will also publish its new Fraud Strategy with measures to prevent scam calls early this year.Government also works closely with Ofcom who have a duty to protect consumers and a duty to ensure that UK numbers are not misused. Ofcom has made several changes in recent years, including since January 2025 under new rules by Ofcom operators have had to block calls from abroad which present as a UK numbers.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the regulatory framework governing VoIP services.

As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).However, while we are engaging with Ofcom and stakeholders on this issue, including with regard to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration to VoIP, the Department has not made any formal assessment of the effectiveness of the regulatory framework governing VoIP services.VoIP uses fibre cables which are far more resilient than copper and offers consumers better quality calls, improved flexibility, and better protections against nuisance and scam calls. The Government is committed to ensuring that any risks from the industry-led migration from the PSTN to VoIP are mitigated for everyone. The Government secured additional safeguards to protect the vulnerable and landline dependent in November 2024. These include measures to identify the vulnerable and telecare users, timely and repeated communications, free engineer visits, and providing a battery back-up where appropriate.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 103948 on Child Benefit: Fraud, if she will make an estimate of the cost to her Department of time spent reviewing old cases.

The projected savings for the residency compliance work are a component of a wider measure announced at Autumn Budget 24 and forms part of the overall forecast for Child Benefit expenditure. The estimate of £350 million over five years for the total saving from this measure will be reviewed and updated as part of a future fiscal event in the usual way and as more data becomes available. From the c. 23,500 cases, 5,367 enquiries remained open on 31 December 2025. HMRC expects to have concluded these by the end of February 2026. Resources used to review cases opened between August and October 2025 are those which are already allocated to this exercise through the funding announced at Autumn Budget 2024.

What steps she is taking to help increase the availability of driving tests at Preston test centre.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to driving tests that will break down barriers to opportunity as part of the government’s Plan for Change. In the coming months, DVSA will: Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their testsIntroduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.Make use of MOD driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times. DVSA is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country, including for Preston driving test centre, to provide as many tests as possible. One new entrant driving examiner is currently awaiting checks and will be placed on a training course as soon as possible. An additional new entrant driving examiner is currently undertaking training, upon successful completion, the new entrant will be joining Preston from February. A full-time driving examiner can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to help protect the privacy of people affected by fatal or serious accidents.

The Government is committed to open justice which means criminal justice should be administered in public and subject to public scrutiny including media reporting. However, there are exceptions in statute or common law which: exclude the press/public from court for all/part of proceedings; permit information to be withheld from open court; or impose temporary/permanent bans on reporting of proceedings or part of proceedings (e.g. identity of those appearing).Automatic reporting restrictions are applied to complainants in rape cases and all other sexual offences. There is a ban on reporting any matter that would identify a child or young person (under 18) in the Youth Court, whether that is a victim, witness or defendant. Victims of Female Genital Mutilation, Human Trafficking, and Forced Marriage are also granted automatic anonymity for life.Lifetime anonymity can be granted to an adult witness or victim in any offence if the quality of the witness’s evidence or their co-operation is likely to be diminished by reason of fear/distress in testifying.Reporting restrictions are a matter for judicial discretion - decisions on whether to impose these are made on a case by case basis by judges taking into account the circumstances of the case, the parties involved and the interests of justice.In addition, the Victims’ Code is a practical and useful guide for all victims of crime to understand what they can expect from the criminal justice system. This includes victims of fatal or serious accidents where they constitute a criminal offence. We will consult on a new Victims’ Code in due course to ensure that we get the foundations for victims right.

How many members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme are awaiting retirement quotations or commencement of pension payments beyond expected timescales.

The administration transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025 and the first payroll ran successfully in the same month.At this time Capita has not provided this information to the Cabinet Office. The focus is on working with the Cabinet Office in order to resolve queries and delays and to move to a stable service as quickly as possible.We acknowledge and recognise that there are delays and are working closely with Capita in order to move to the expected service levels as quickly as possible. This includes providing additional support to Capita, increasing staffing by c50% over and above the number that transferred from MyCSP. It is also prioritising urgent cases.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 103948 on Child Benefit: Fraud, when she estimates the c 23,500 cohort will have been fully reviewed.

The projected savings for the residency compliance work are a component of a wider measure announced at Autumn Budget 24 and forms part of the overall forecast for Child Benefit expenditure. The estimate of £350 million over five years for the total saving from this measure will be reviewed and updated as part of a future fiscal event in the usual way and as more data becomes available. From the c. 23,500 cases, 5,367 enquiries remained open on 31 December 2025. HMRC expects to have concluded these by the end of February 2026. Resources used to review cases opened between August and October 2025 are those which are already allocated to this exercise through the funding announced at Autumn Budget 2024.

With reference to the press release entitled Child Benefit action to save £350 million from claimants abroad, published on 22 August 2025, and to the correspondence from the Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary of the Treasury to the Chair of the Treasury Committee of 14 November 2025, if she will make a revised estimate of the potential impact of the Government’s policies on tackling benefit fraud on the cost to the public purse of child benefit.

The projected savings for the residency compliance work are a component of a wider measure announced at Autumn Budget 24 and forms part of the overall forecast for Child Benefit expenditure. The estimate of £350 million over five years for the total saving from this measure will be reviewed and updated as part of a future fiscal event in the usual way and as more data becomes available. From the c. 23,500 cases, 5,367 enquiries remained open on 31 December 2025. HMRC expects to have concluded these by the end of February 2026. Resources used to review cases opened between August and October 2025 are those which are already allocated to this exercise through the funding announced at Autumn Budget 2024.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of regulations on the broadcast or online circulation of footage from fatal accident scenes.

Ofcom is required by legislation to enforce a Broadcasting Code to protect television audiences from harmful material and against unwarranted infringements of privacy. Broadcasters should not take or broadcast footage of people caught up in emergencies, victims of accidents or those suffering a personal tragedy, even in a public place, where that results in an infringement of privacy, unless it is warranted or the people concerned have given consent. Where someone shares material via social media that is grossly offensive, indecent, or otherwise unlawful, this may constitute a criminal offence. Anybody who carries out this action could be liable to prosecution through the Courts. Under the Online Safety Act, services must establish adequate systems and processes to prevent illegal content, including material that is grossly offensive or indecent, from appearing and remove it if it does. The Government continues to monitor these issues closely and consider whether further interventions are necessary to protect victims and uphold public safety.

Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has had recent discussions with social media companies on the rapid removal of graphic or traumatic content depicting serious injury or death.

DSIT has regular discussions with social media companies about a number of online safety matters, including tackling harmful content.The Online Safety Act gives social media platforms duties to protect their users from harmful content. Under the regulatory regime, platforms must swiftly remove illegal content, including illegal content which depicts serious violence or injury.Services likely to be accessed by children must put in place age-appropriate protections from violent content, and ensure they have accessible reporting mechanisms in place for parents and children.Service providers must assess risks and design services to be safe. Ofcom has powers to investigate compliance and can take enforcement action where necessary.