Written questions by McDonald.

How many Full‑Time Equivalent staff are engaged via the Managed Service Provider, broken down by business area.

HMRC is currently using Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to provide additional customer service capacity, equivalent to around 500 FTE, focused on routine work. This includes support for the Online Services Helpdesk and handling simple PAYE enquiries.HMRC are currently in an initial approximately 18 month ‘proof of value’ phase using existing Government contracts. This will allow them to test, learn and ensure quality and value for money before wider implementation.HMRC has been clear that no HMRC colleague will be made redundant as a result of this initiative.HMRC will continue to use a range of resourcing models, alongside the use of MSPs, to meet variable customer demand.

What modelling HMRC has undertaken on the displacement risk from the Managed Service provider model to existing HMRC roles, including surge staff and fixed‑term employees.

HMRC is currently using Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to provide additional customer service capacity, equivalent to around 500 FTE, focused on routine work. This includes support for the Online Services Helpdesk and handling simple PAYE enquiries.HMRC are currently in an initial approximately 18 month ‘proof of value’ phase using existing Government contracts. This will allow them to test, learn and ensure quality and value for money before wider implementation.HMRC has been clear that no HMRC colleague will be made redundant as a result of this initiative.HMRC will continue to use a range of resourcing models, alongside the use of MSPs, to meet variable customer demand.

What HMRC’s projected Managed Service Provider headcount is for the (a) next 12 months and (b) Spending Review period.

HMRC is currently using Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to provide additional customer service capacity, equivalent to around 500 FTE, focused on routine work. This includes support for the Online Services Helpdesk and handling simple PAYE enquiries.HMRC are currently in an initial approximately 18 month ‘proof of value’ phase using existing Government contracts. This will allow them to test, learn and ensure quality and value for money before wider implementation.HMRC has been clear that no HMRC colleague will be made redundant as a result of this initiative.HMRC will continue to use a range of resourcing models, alongside the use of MSPs, to meet variable customer demand.

Whether Managed Service Provider staffing levels are expected to increase beyond peak‑demand coverage for each function.

HMRC is currently using Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to provide additional customer service capacity, equivalent to around 500 FTE, focused on routine work. This includes support for the Online Services Helpdesk and handling simple PAYE enquiries.HMRC are currently in an initial approximately 18 month ‘proof of value’ phase using existing Government contracts. This will allow them to test, learn and ensure quality and value for money before wider implementation.HMRC has been clear that no HMRC colleague will be made redundant as a result of this initiative.HMRC will continue to use a range of resourcing models, alongside the use of MSPs, to meet variable customer demand.

Whether HMRC plans to maintain Customer Services Group headcount and total productive hours as Managed Service Provider capacity increases.

HMRC is currently using Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to provide additional customer service capacity, equivalent to around 500 FTE, focused on routine work. This includes support for the Online Services Helpdesk and handling simple PAYE enquiries.HMRC are currently in an initial approximately 18 month ‘proof of value’ phase using existing Government contracts. This will allow them to test, learn and ensure quality and value for money before wider implementation.HMRC has been clear that no HMRC colleague will be made redundant as a result of this initiative.HMRC will continue to use a range of resourcing models, alongside the use of MSPs, to meet variable customer demand.

If he will commit to making the 2022 SCI Rehabilitation Standards mandatory.

Specialised spinal cord injury services are currently commissioned by NHS England Specialised Commissioning, in line with the service specification published by the Clinical Reference Group. This translates to 385 spinal cord injury beds commissioned from eight providers in England. NHS England provides annual funding of approximately £80 million to spinal cord injury centres to deliver inpatient care and outreach to secondary care prior to admission and to community services following discharges to support transition.NHS England recognises that services have experienced increasing referrals alongside complexity of presentations. NHS England plans to undertake work during 2026/27 to assess the adequacy of treatment pathways within specialised spinal injury services and will consider if any further updates are required to the national service specification based on the findings.All spinal cord injury providers are required to submit outcome data to the Specialised Services Quality Dashboard. These data enable the National Health Service to monitor of the quality of care, including clinical outcomes and equitability of access. The data is linked to the national spinal cord injury (SCI) registry, which provides audit data.The dashboard is a key tool in monitoring the quality of services, enabling comparison between service providers, and supporting improvements over time in the outcomes of services commissioned by NHS England.Additionally, in March 2025, NHS England published the Spinal Services Clinical Network Specification, which establishes expectations for spinal clinical networks to standardise pathways and reduce variation, with the aim of improving access to care for patients.Spinal Cord Injury services in England are commissioned against the published national service specification, which sets out the mandated standards that all providers are required to meet for all patients, including in relation to rehabilitation. The service specification mandates that spinal cord injury centres must provide restorative rehabilitation and re-enablement, and support patients’ reintegration into the community. When a patient is admitted to a spinal cord injury centre, there must be a focus on rehabilitation from the outset, with treatment by a co-ordinated multidisciplinary team. The specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/service-spec-spinal-cord-injury-services-all-ages.pdf

What steps he has taken to consult specialist healthcare professionals and people with lived experience of spinal cord injury in determining changes to commissioning structures for specialist spinal cord injury services to address geographic variations in (a) access and (b) quality of rehabilitation services for people with spinal cord injury.

Ahead of its planned abolition, NHS England has been considering whether any specialised services currently retained for national commissioning by NHS England should transfer to integrated care boards (ICBs) or become the commissioning responsibility of the Department. This process, which has included engagement with NHS England’s regional commissioning teams and relevant national clinical leads, has identified 11 services, including spinal cord injury services, which would benefit from a more integrated approach to commissioning achieved through the transfer of commissioning responsibility to ICBs. A final decision on which specialised services will transfer and become the commissioning responsibility of ICBs will need approval by Parliament for the necessary changes in primary legislation and, where required, secondary legislation.Changes to the commissioning architecture will not themselves result in any service change. Where commissioning plans would result in service change, commissioners have a statutory duty to involve and consult the public, which would provide an opportunity to hear from people with lived experience. We recognise that where responsibility for commissioning specialised services is transferred to ICBs, it will be important to maintain expert commissioning knowledge and capability. That is why we are taking steps to establish an office for Pan-ICB Commissioning within each of the seven National Health Service regions to support all ICBs across a region in commissioning specialised services, including the planning and commissioning of services ‘at scale’ where this is appropriate.The Government fully recognises the importance of maintaining a national framework of standards and clinical commissioning policies to ensure equitable access to specialised services for all patients. This will apply to all specialised services regardless of whether they become the commissioning responsibility of ICBs or the Department in the future.We are committing to addressing geographic variation in the access to and the quality of rehabilitation services for people with spinal cord injury. In October 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published new guidance on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders, which includes rehabilitation for spinal cord injury. NICE guidelines are evidence-based, informed by clinical expertise, and represent best practice. The Government expects commissioners and service providers to take NICE guidance fully into account when designing services that meet the needs of their local population and work towards implementation over time.

What steps he has taken to consult specialist healthcare professionals and people with lived experience of spinal cord injury in determining changes to commissioning structures for specialist spinal cord injury services.

Ahead of its planned abolition, NHS England has been considering whether any specialised services currently retained for national commissioning by NHS England should transfer to integrated care boards (ICBs) or become the commissioning responsibility of the Department. This process, which has included engagement with NHS England’s regional commissioning teams and relevant national clinical leads, has identified 11 services, including spinal cord injury services, which would benefit from a more integrated approach to commissioning achieved through the transfer of commissioning responsibility to ICBs. A final decision on which specialised services will transfer and become the commissioning responsibility of ICBs will need approval by Parliament for the necessary changes in primary legislation and, where required, secondary legislation.Changes to the commissioning architecture will not themselves result in any service change. Where commissioning plans would result in service change, commissioners have a statutory duty to involve and consult the public, which would provide an opportunity to hear from people with lived experience. We recognise that where responsibility for commissioning specialised services is transferred to ICBs, it will be important to maintain expert commissioning knowledge and capability. That is why we are taking steps to establish an office for Pan-ICB Commissioning within each of the seven National Health Service regions to support all ICBs across a region in commissioning specialised services, including the planning and commissioning of services ‘at scale’ where this is appropriate.The Government fully recognises the importance of maintaining a national framework of standards and clinical commissioning policies to ensure equitable access to specialised services for all patients. This will apply to all specialised services regardless of whether they become the commissioning responsibility of ICBs or the Department in the future.We are committing to addressing geographic variation in the access to and the quality of rehabilitation services for people with spinal cord injury. In October 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published new guidance on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders, which includes rehabilitation for spinal cord injury. NICE guidelines are evidence-based, informed by clinical expertise, and represent best practice. The Government expects commissioners and service providers to take NICE guidance fully into account when designing services that meet the needs of their local population and work towards implementation over time.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of and the capacity in the specialist spinal cord injury service.

Specialised spinal cord injury services are currently commissioned by NHS England Specialised Commissioning, in line with the service specification published by the Clinical Reference Group. This translates to 385 spinal cord injury beds commissioned from eight providers in England. NHS England provides annual funding of approximately £80 million to spinal cord injury centres to deliver inpatient care and outreach to secondary care prior to admission and to community services following discharges to support transition.NHS England recognises that services have experienced increasing referrals alongside complexity of presentations. NHS England plans to undertake work during 2026/27 to assess the adequacy of treatment pathways within specialised spinal injury services and will consider if any further updates are required to the national service specification based on the findings.All spinal cord injury providers are required to submit outcome data to the Specialised Services Quality Dashboard. These data enable the National Health Service to monitor of the quality of care, including clinical outcomes and equitability of access. The data is linked to the national spinal cord injury (SCI) registry, which provides audit data.The dashboard is a key tool in monitoring the quality of services, enabling comparison between service providers, and supporting improvements over time in the outcomes of services commissioned by NHS England.Additionally, in March 2025, NHS England published the Spinal Services Clinical Network Specification, which establishes expectations for spinal clinical networks to standardise pathways and reduce variation, with the aim of improving access to care for patients.Spinal Cord Injury services in England are commissioned against the published national service specification, which sets out the mandated standards that all providers are required to meet for all patients, including in relation to rehabilitation. The service specification mandates that spinal cord injury centres must provide restorative rehabilitation and re-enablement, and support patients’ reintegration into the community. When a patient is admitted to a spinal cord injury centre, there must be a focus on rehabilitation from the outset, with treatment by a co-ordinated multidisciplinary team. The specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/service-spec-spinal-cord-injury-services-all-ages.pdf

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of service specifications and commissioning plans for spinal cord injury.

Specialised spinal cord injury services are currently commissioned by NHS England Specialised Commissioning, in line with the service specification published by the Clinical Reference Group. This translates to 385 spinal cord injury beds commissioned from eight providers in England. NHS England provides annual funding of approximately £80 million to spinal cord injury centres to deliver inpatient care and outreach to secondary care prior to admission and to community services following discharges to support transition.NHS England recognises that services have experienced increasing referrals alongside complexity of presentations. NHS England plans to undertake work during 2026/27 to assess the adequacy of treatment pathways within specialised spinal injury services and will consider if any further updates are required to the national service specification based on the findings.All spinal cord injury providers are required to submit outcome data to the Specialised Services Quality Dashboard. These data enable the National Health Service to monitor of the quality of care, including clinical outcomes and equitability of access. The data is linked to the national spinal cord injury (SCI) registry, which provides audit data.The dashboard is a key tool in monitoring the quality of services, enabling comparison between service providers, and supporting improvements over time in the outcomes of services commissioned by NHS England.Additionally, in March 2025, NHS England published the Spinal Services Clinical Network Specification, which establishes expectations for spinal clinical networks to standardise pathways and reduce variation, with the aim of improving access to care for patients.Spinal Cord Injury services in England are commissioned against the published national service specification, which sets out the mandated standards that all providers are required to meet for all patients, including in relation to rehabilitation. The service specification mandates that spinal cord injury centres must provide restorative rehabilitation and re-enablement, and support patients’ reintegration into the community. When a patient is admitted to a spinal cord injury centre, there must be a focus on rehabilitation from the outset, with treatment by a co-ordinated multidisciplinary team. The specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/service-spec-spinal-cord-injury-services-all-ages.pdf

Whether he plans to harmonise pay, terms and conditions for staff transferring to the Fair Work Agency from (a) Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, (b) The Employment Agency Standards inspectorate, (c) the Office of the Director of Labour Standards Enforcement and (d) HMRC National Minimum Wage Unit.

Creating the Fair Work Agency is a significant step forward in strengthening the enforcement of employment rights. All transfers of staff into the organisation will be carried out in line with the principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice regarding such matters.

Whether she has directed DFT Operator of Last Resort to adopt a standard process for recognition of trade unions and provision of trade union facility time at the end of each train operating company franchise agreement.

Recognition of trade unions and provision of facility time is a matter for train operating companies as employers.

What assessment she has made of the extent of recognition of trade unions and provision of trade union facility time at management grades in each train operating company.

Recognition of trade unions and provision of facility time is a matter for train operating companies as employers.

What arrangements are in place to maintain the Schedule 17 Ticketing and Settlement Agreement terms between Rail Delivery Group and train operating companies on a) their transfer to DFT Operator of Last Resort and through b) the transition to Great British Railways.

Train operating companies are expected to maintain the ticket office opening hours set out in Schedule 17 to the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA) throughout their transfer to DfT Operator and as Great British Railways (GBR) is established. As part of wider rail reform and the move to GBR, we are considering if changes to the TSA are needed to ensure GBR can fulfil its role as directing mind for the railways in Great Britain.

What discussions she has had with Network Rail on the recognition of trade unions at its subsidiary Platform 4.

Trade Union (TU) recognition is a matter for the employer to discuss with the TU. Platform 4 is now the employer following a TUPE process. While TU recognition agreements were not transferred from Network Rail to Platform 4 under TUPE, Platform 4 has held discussions with the TUs about recognition, with further discussions intended shortly.

What discussions she has had with trade unions regarding on the establishment of collective bargaining arrangements under Great British Railways.

The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the trade unions about the establishment of collective bargaining agreements under Great British Railways (GBR). This is a matter for rail employers to take forward as plans for GBR progress, and the trade unions will be updated on such matters through the Rail Engagement Group.

Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the advice the Independent Advisory Board has provided on managing conflicts between borrowing and lending functions to a) Tees Valley Combined Authority and b) South Tees Development Corporation.

The Tees Valley Combined Authority’s improvement board is independent and appointed by the authority. As part of the Best Value Notice, the Department engages regularly with the Board for updates and broader assurance that the necessary progress is being made. The Board also reports publicly on its findings to the combined authority’s Cabinet.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of consecutive disclaimed audit opinions for Tees Valley Combined Authority accounts and the improvement requirements of the Best Value Notice process.

Audit opinions and compliance with the statutory audit requirements are an important part of the Department’s holistic assessment of a local authority’s delivery of Best Value. The Best Value Notice issued to Tees Valley Combined Authority sets clear expectations for the authority to comply with its external auditor’s recommendations, including delivering sustained improvement in financial governance, capacity and use of resources.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made regarding the potential implications for his policies of revenue-backed lending arrangements for Best Value assessments.

Finance arrangements are considered as part of the Department’s holistic assessment of a local authority’s delivery of Best Value, as set out in the statutory guidance on Best Value standards and intervention. In making borrowing decisions, authorities must comply with legislation and have regard to statutory guidance to ensure that all borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable, and in compliance with their Best Value Duty. Under the current system, local authorities have wide freedoms to borrow and invest as they are best placed to determine their own capital strategies to meet the needs of local residents. Under statute, all borrowing is secured indifferently on the authority's revenues.

Communities and Local Government, if the Department will consult a) constituent local authorities, and b) local Members of Parliament regarding the performance of Tees Valley Combined Authority, in relation to its Best Value Notice process.

Through the Best Value Notice process, the Department has engaged extensively with the combined authority, its constituent authorities, government departments, the Independent Advisory Board and the external auditor to understand views and track progress against the Notice. The evidence provided by key local and national stakeholders remain a crucial part of the Best Value Notice process.