Written questions by Cooper.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on Official Development Assistance allocations.

We are working through detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments. We plan to publish indicative allocations for the next three years in the coming months.

What guidance her Department provides to schools on gambling-like features in video games, including loot boxes and in-game spending, as part of online safety education.

Statutory relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) supports children and young people to manage risk and make informed decisions in relation to their mental wellbeing and online behaviour. The updated RSHE statutory guidance is clear that children and young people should be taught the risks relating to online gaming, video game monetisation, scams, fraud and other financial harms, and that gaming can become addictive. Curriculum content also includes the risks related to online gambling and gambling-like content within gaming, including the accumulation of debt. The departments online safety guidance covers how to teach about all aspects of internet safety and includes content on gaming and gambling, and can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-online-safety-in-schools. As with other aspects of the curriculum, schools have flexibility over how they deliver important topics and use their autonomy and local community knowledge to do this.

How she plans to ensure consistency in pay and conditions for supply teachers when participation in the new Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework is on an opt-in basis.

The new iteration of the Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework will remove excessive agency mark-ups through a cap on agency fees.It will not affect pay for supply teachers employed through agencies. This will continue to be set by agencies in the first 12 weeks of an assignment, and supply teachers are free to register with multiple agencies to find the best pay and conditions to meet their own circumstances. The Agency Worker Regulations provides that all workers on assignments exceeding 12 weeks are paid on equal terms as permanent staff after the 12th week.

Whether she made an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework to require supply teachers to be paid in line with the national teacher pay scale.

The new iteration of the Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework will remove excessive agency mark-ups through a cap on agency fees.It will not affect pay for supply teachers employed through agencies. This will continue to be set by agencies in the first 12 weeks of an assignment, and supply teachers are free to register with multiple agencies to find the best pay and conditions to meet their own circumstances. The Agency Worker Regulations provides that all workers on assignments exceeding 12 weeks are paid on equal terms as permanent staff after the 12th week.

What assessment she has made of the impact on supply teacher recruitment and retention of not requiring agencies operating under the Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework to pay in accordance with the national teacher pay scale.

The new iteration of the Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework will remove excessive agency mark-ups through a cap on agency fees.It will not affect pay for supply teachers employed through agencies. This will continue to be set by agencies in the first 12 weeks of an assignment, and supply teachers are free to register with multiple agencies to find the best pay and conditions to meet their own circumstances. The Agency Worker Regulations provides that all workers on assignments exceeding 12 weeks are paid on equal terms as permanent staff after the 12th week.

What steps she is taking to mitigate variations in pay and employment conditions arising from individual school negotiations with agencies under the Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework.

The new iteration of the Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework will remove excessive agency mark-ups through a cap on agency fees.It will not affect pay for supply teachers employed through agencies. This will continue to be set by agencies in the first 12 weeks of an assignment, and supply teachers are free to register with multiple agencies to find the best pay and conditions to meet their own circumstances. The Agency Worker Regulations provides that all workers on assignments exceeding 12 weeks are paid on equal terms as permanent staff after the 12th week.

For what reason the new Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework makes no provision for ensuring that supply teachers can access the teachers’ pension scheme.

The Teachers’ Pensions Regulations currently provide for supply teachers to participate in the teachers’ pension scheme (TPS) where they are employed by a scheme employer. These are local authorities, academies and further education colleges. This includes supply teachers who are recruited by a supply agency but then employed directly, under a contract of employment, by the scheme employer.Where supply teachers are self-employed or remain employed by a supply agency and their services are provided under a ‘contract for services’, it is not possible for them to participate in the TPS as there is no organisation to undertake the employer role, including remitting contributions to the scheme.Supply teachers employed by agencies will continue to have access to alternative workplace pensions.

What steps she is taking to improve supply teachers’ access to the teachers’ pension scheme under the new Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework.

The Teachers’ Pensions Regulations currently provide for supply teachers to participate in the teachers’ pension scheme (TPS) where they are employed by a scheme employer. These are local authorities, academies and further education colleges. This includes supply teachers who are recruited by a supply agency but then employed directly, under a contract of employment, by the scheme employer.Where supply teachers are self-employed or remain employed by a supply agency and their services are provided under a ‘contract for services’, it is not possible for them to participate in the TPS as there is no organisation to undertake the employer role, including remitting contributions to the scheme.Supply teachers employed by agencies will continue to have access to alternative workplace pensions.

What mechanisms she is putting in place to ensure that proposed agency fee caps under the new Supply Teachers and Temporary Staffing framework are effectively monitored and enforced.

The responsibility for monitoring adherence to the agency fee caps, and all requirements of the framework agreement, sits with Crown Commercial Service (CCS). As part of the framework terms and conditions, agencies must provide data reporting, with potential consequences of non-compliance resulting in removal from the framework agreement.To support CCS, the department will review spend across the sector, comparing it with the management information reported by suppliers to CCS through the framework.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of tax incentives for retail and hospitality employers to employ people aged 18 to 21 years old.

Businesses can already claim a number of employer NICs reliefs including those for under-21s and under-25 apprentices. This means employers will pay no employer NICs for apprentices under 25 or employees under 21 on earnings up to £50,270.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of different rates of change in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage between 2023 and 2024 compared to changes in the student loan repayment threshold on people who have graduated in the last five years.

Changes to student loan repayment thresholds are not linked to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. Borrowers are liable to repay a fixed percentage of earnings only when earning above the applicable student loan repayment threshold. Those earning below the student loan repayment threshold repay nothing. Any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off after the loan term ends (or in case of death or disability) at no detriment to the borrower. A full equality impact assessment of how the student loan reforms may affect graduates, including detail on changes to average lifetime repayments under Plan 5, was produced and published in February 2022, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment.

How many incidents of lost exam scripts have been reported to the Department and Ofqual in each of the last two academic years.

This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, to write to my hon. Friend, the Member for Worthing West and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

What processes are in place to ensure accountability and transparency when GCSE examination scripts are lost by exam boards.

This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, to write to my hon. Friend, the Member for Worthing West and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that Ukrainians with valid leave under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme are able to obtain confirmation of their right to (a) live, (b) work and (c) study in the UK.

The Home Office is developing a more digital and streamlined border and immigration system that will enhance the applicant’s experience and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency. Successful applicants under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, like people granted status on other routes, now receive an eVisa as evidence of their immigration status. An eVisa is a digital record of a person's identity and their immigration permission in the UK, and any conditions which apply, which they can access by logging into their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. They can also link their travel document (such as passport) to their UKVI account to facilitate straightforward international travel. All applicants issued with an eVisa as evidence of their immigration status receive a written notification, either via email or post, once their immigration application has been successful, and their immigration permission granted. This notification confirms that the person has been issued an eVisa as evidence of their immigration status. It also includes information on what an eVisa is, and how to access and use it. eVisas increasingly update in real time to accurately reflect a person’s immigration status and their entitlements to access work, benefits, housing, and services—unlike physical documents which may appear valid but no longer reflect actual status. This information can be shared automatically with public authorities and government departments, through system-to-system checks, for example to show a person’s entitlement to receive public funds or healthcare. People with eVisas can share their status easily and securely online, including to employers and education providers, by signing in to the 'view and prove' service and getting a share code, which remains valid for 90 days. More information is available here: eVisas: access and use your online immigration status: View your eVisa and get a share code to prove your immigration status - GOV.UK We encourage Ukrainians in the UK on the Ukraine schemes who do not yet have a UKVI account to create one to access their eVisa. They can do so here:eVisas: access and use your online immigration status: Set up a UKVI account to access your eVisa - GOV.UK Should anyone find themselves needing support with creating their UKVI account or getting access to their eVisa, the latest updates and guidance can be found on GOV.UK at: eVisas: access and use your online immigration status: What an eVisa is - GOV.UKIf a person is not be able to prove their rights digitally, employers and landlords can use the Employer Checking Service and Landlord Checking Service to verify a person’s right to work or rent. We do however encourage these people to make the switch to an eVisa given the benefits it brings.

If he will initiate a review of the (a) structure and (b) terms of reference of the NHS Business Services Authority following the NHS 10 Year Plan.

As a Special Health Authority and Arm’s-Length Body of the Department of Health and Social Care, the National Health Service Business Services Authority’s (NHSBSA) strategic and structural alignment with government objectives and its Framework Document are reviewed regularly by Departmental sponsors.Discussions between officials within NHSBSA, NHS England and the Department are ongoing concerning NHSBSA’s role and services to the health and social care system and the public. This includes the support it can provide to deliver the 10-Year Health Plan.

What steps her Department plans to take to ensure that visa applications for foreign nationals visiting the UK through aid-funded project deliverables are processed in a (a) timely and (b) efficient manner.

All short term visit visas are governed by our published service standards. These can be found here: Visitors and transit: customer service standards - GOV.UKCustomers are advised to allow enough time to receive their visa before applying. Customers in certain locations have the option to apply for a premium paid service to allow them to receive a decision quicker than the advertised times. Information on premium paid services can be found here: Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application: Applying for a faster decision - GOV.UKVisa processing times are constantly monitored to ensure that visas are being delivered within our published service standards. Where an application will not be processed within service standards due to the complex nature of the application, the applicant is informed their application will take longer.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) transparency and (b) accountability in the management of fire safety equipment in leasehold properties.

Under Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, those responsible for fire safety in their premises (Responsible Persons) must make sure that any preventive and protective measures installed to address fire safety risks are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. It is also a requirement on Responsible Persons for multi-occupied residential buildings to communicate the preventive and protective measures they have installed as a result of a fire risk assessment to residents in a comprehensible way. There is a regulatory making power to mandate the frequency of this information, and we will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation to identify if such a mandate is necessary.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to strengthen consumer protection in the short term lets market.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, traders must carry out a service with reasonable care and skill, and within reasonable time. Where a trader fails to meet the standards required, this could be a breach of contract and the consumer is entitled to ask for a repeat performance of the service or a price reduction.The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new administrative powers, and the CMA and courts the ability to impose significant monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover.DBT also funds Citizens Advice to provide the consumer service which supports consumers to resolve disputes and assert their rights.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support water and sanitation projects through Official Development Assistance.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 17 September to question 75697. Further to the answer given, the latest consolidated Statistics for International Development, published in September 2025, shows that UK bilateral Official Development Assistance spent on water, sanitation and hygiene totalled £80 million in the 2024 calendar year.

What guidance the has issued to local authorities on encouraging preventative health behaviours among working-age adults with (a) caring and (b) parental responsibilities.

The Government recognises the vital role that preventative health behaviours play in improving long-term health outcomes, including among working-age adults with caring and parental responsibilities.The Government’s Health Mission sets out a plan to shift our National Health Service away from a model geared towards late diagnosis and treatment, to one where the NHS focuses on prevention, with more services delivered in local communities.The Government’s Better Health Start for Life campaign provides resources for local authorities, as well as advice to parents and carers. This supports healthy behaviours for babies and children up to the age of five years old on a range of topics, from pregnancy and infant feeding to getting their child school ready.Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for carers.