Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

With reference to the Office for National Statistics' data entitled The night-time economy, UK: 2022, published on 24 January 2023, what recent steps her Department has taken to support the health and safety of the 76,300 workers in Lambeth identified as working at night.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 all employers have a duty, so far as it is reasonably practicable, to protect the health, safety, and welfare at work of all their employees. Specifically, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess health and safety risks to employees and to put in place arrangements to control those risks. This applies to all employers in Great Britain. Having considered the impact of shift work on health and safety, Health and Safety Executive has published guidance for employers to support them in managing the risk (Managing shift work [HSG 256]). Therefore, if an employer assesses shift work as a risk they should introduce control measures including those outlined in the guidance. The Government recognises that night working can increase stress levels and can have an impact on both physical and mental health. In Great Britain, working hours, including working at night, are governed by the Working Time Regulations (WTR). These provide protections to night time workers including by establishing the maximum working hours and minimum rest breaks that workers are entitled to. Before someone starts working at night, they must be offered a free health assessment to see if they are fit to work nights before they become a night worker and on a regular basis after that. The frequency of the health assessment should be guided by an assessment of the specific risks to each individual worker. A record of the health assessments and the dates when assessments were offered must be kept by the employer. If a worker suffers from health problems that are caused or made worse by night work, employers must offer suitable other work where possible.

How Serco performed against the key performance indicators at the most recent performance review on their RAF Brize Norton Support Services contract.

At their most recent performance review, Serco had achieved the target for all Key Performance Indicators for this contract. The Contract Management Plan for the RAF Brize Norton Support Service contract can be found along with quarterly performance reports at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-performance-indicators-kpis-for-governments-most-important-contracts

How Serco performed against the key performance indicators at the most recent performance review on their Future Defence Infrastructure Services contract.

Serco do not hold a Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) contract. Serco and Equans are the parent companies of VIVO. VIVO hold two Built Estate FDIS contracts in the South-West and Central Regions, as well as FDIS Accommodation contracts. The FDIS contracts are held with VIVO and therefore we do not score Serco independently when reviewing performance.

How Serco performed against the key performance indicators at the most recent performance review on their UK Air Defence Radars contract.

Serco provide Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) to Remote Radar Heads (RRH) in the UK and UK Overseas Territories. CLS performance is monitored and reported on the following two contracts: Contract number ADEWS/137 (Sanson Two) – This CLS support and maintenance contract is for one RRH and commenced on 1 May 2025. As a result, no Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reporting information exists. Contract number ADEWS/099 (KARKINOS) – This CLS support and maintenance contract is for five RRH’s. There is an operational availability KPI for the Radar Systems in the contract. Serco have met this contracted KPI for each calendar month in the last report period March 2024 to February 2025.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a strategy to help reduce the economic impact of sleep deprivation in the workforce.

We have set out our immediate priorities for reforming employment law in the Plan to Make Work Pay. While the Plan does not include specific measures on implementing a strategy on sleep deprivation, it aims to improve wellbeing by supporting people to better balance work with their personal circumstances.Furthermore, the Working Time Regulations establishes a legal framework which provides minimum standards for working hours and rest periods. This ensure that workers are provided with basic minimum rights on a maximum working week, rest breaks and annual leave.

How Serco performed against the key performance indicators at the most recent performance review on their Royal Navy Helicopter Support contract.

The contract between the Royal Navy and Serco for the provision of Air Engineering Support and Airfield services is subject to routine performance reviews. The most recent of which was held on 30 April 2025 when the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) relating to safety, service quality, aircraft engineering services, off-aircraft engineering services, airfield services and contract governance were reviewed. No significant shortfalls in Serco’s delivery against agreed key performance indicators were identified at that review. Quarterly KPI information is published four times a year for transparency and can be found at Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts - GOV.UK

How Serco performed against key performance indicators at the most recent performance review of the Forth Valley Royal Hospital contract.

Health is a devolved matter in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government are responsible for the National Health Service in Scotland, including legislation, funding, and overall management.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of student loan debt on young people’s ability to (a) save for a home and (b) contribute to the economy.

UK higher education (HE) creates opportunity, is an engine for growth in our economy and supports local communities. The department is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university, regardless of their background, where they live and their personal circumstances.It is reasonable to ask graduates who benefit financially from HE to contribute towards the cost of their studies. Graduates can expect, on average, to earn around £100,000 more in their lifetime than someone who does not attend HE. The government is determined that the HE funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students.Student loans have very different terms and conditions to commercial loans and carry significant protections for borrowers. For lower earners who will not repay much of their loan, any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off at the end of the loan term (or in case of death or disability) with no detriment to the borrower. This government subsidy of student loans is a deliberate investment in our young people and the economy.Student loans are subject to interest, set with reference to inflation, to ensure that those who can afford to do so contribute to the full cost of their degree. Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on earnings above the repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or interest rates. As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on loans taken out after 2012 are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans. This cap was triggered and protected borrowers during the recent spikes in inflation. Interest rates for undergraduate loans taken out before 2012 are also capped at the retail price index or the Bank of England base rate plus 1%, whichever is lower.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of Serco's performance against key performance indicators in their Functional Assessment Services contract.

Serco secured the Functional Assessment Services (FAS) contract for Lot 3 (south-west England) through a competitive and transparent procurement under the Public Contract Regulations in line with Government policies. Serco strives to provide an excellent service to claimants and are held to account for their performance.The contract with Serco is robustly managed to obtain optimal performance, with a dedicated performance management team monitoring performance on an ongoing basis. DWP does not use key performance indicators in the FAS contract; instead, we monitor performance through the achievement of Target Performance Levels (TPLs) and Volume Clearance Targets (VCTs). As the contract is still relatively new, we do not yet have sufficient data to share a full assessment of Serco's performance. However, plans are being developed for a routine statistics publication.We are working hard to ensure all services are delivered to a high standard for customers and we have sufficient controls in place to quickly identify any future deterioration.

If she will make it her policy to cap student loan interest rates in line with the Bank of England base rate.

UK higher education (HE) creates opportunity, is an engine for growth in our economy and supports local communities. The department is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university, regardless of their background, where they live and their personal circumstances.It is reasonable to ask graduates who benefit financially from HE to contribute towards the cost of their studies. Graduates can expect, on average, to earn around £100,000 more in their lifetime than someone who does not attend HE. The government is determined that the HE funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students.Student loans have very different terms and conditions to commercial loans and carry significant protections for borrowers. For lower earners who will not repay much of their loan, any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off at the end of the loan term (or in case of death or disability) with no detriment to the borrower. This government subsidy of student loans is a deliberate investment in our young people and the economy.Student loans are subject to interest, set with reference to inflation, to ensure that those who can afford to do so contribute to the full cost of their degree. Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on earnings above the repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or interest rates. As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on loans taken out after 2012 are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans. This cap was triggered and protected borrowers during the recent spikes in inflation. Interest rates for undergraduate loans taken out before 2012 are also capped at the retail price index or the Bank of England base rate plus 1%, whichever is lower.

What assessment her Department has made of the (a) affordability and (b) long-term sustainability of the student loans repayment system for (i) low and (ii) middle-income graduates.

It is important that we have a sustainable higher education (HE) funding system that provides opportunities for all, supports students, and maintains the world-leading status of our universities. This government keeps the student finance system under continuous review to ensure that it delivers good value for both students and taxpayers. We are determined that the HE funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students, and the government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university. We will set out this government’s longer term plan for HE reform by summer 2025.Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on a fixed percentage of earnings above the applicable student loan repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or the rate of interest. If a borrower’s income drops, so does the amount they repay. If income is below the relevant student loan repayment threshold, or a borrower is not earning, repayments stop.Any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off after the loan term ends at no detriment to the borrower. This protects lower and lower-middle earners in particular. This government subsidy of student loans is a deliberate investment in our young people and the economy.A detailed impact assessment for the current student loan system is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment.To consider both students and taxpayers, and ensure the real value of the loans over the repayment term, interest rates on student loans are linked to inflation by being set in reference to the Retail Price Index (RPI), from the previous March, and applied annually on 1 September until 31 August. The next annual update will be based on the RPI from March 2025 and will apply from 1 September 2025.As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on post-2012 loans are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that increases in student loan debts do not contribute to intergenerational wealth inequality.

UK higher education (HE) creates opportunity, is an engine for growth in our economy and supports local communities. The department is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university, regardless of their background, where they live and their personal circumstances.It is reasonable to ask graduates who benefit financially from HE to contribute towards the cost of their studies. Graduates can expect, on average, to earn around £100,000 more in their lifetime than someone who does not attend HE. The government is determined that the HE funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students.Student loans have very different terms and conditions to commercial loans and carry significant protections for borrowers. For lower earners who will not repay much of their loan, any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off at the end of the loan term (or in case of death or disability) with no detriment to the borrower. This government subsidy of student loans is a deliberate investment in our young people and the economy.Student loans are subject to interest, set with reference to inflation, to ensure that those who can afford to do so contribute to the full cost of their degree. Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on earnings above the repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or interest rates. As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on loans taken out after 2012 are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans. This cap was triggered and protected borrowers during the recent spikes in inflation. Interest rates for undergraduate loans taken out before 2012 are also capped at the retail price index or the Bank of England base rate plus 1%, whichever is lower.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a publicly funded model of higher education with reduced reliance on individual debt financing.

The higher education (HE) sector needs a secure financial footing. After seven years of frozen fee caps under the previous government, the government took the difficult decision to increase maximum tuition fee limits for the 2025/26 academic year by 3.1%, in line with the forecast rate of inflation.  We also recognise the impact that the cost-of-living crisis has had on students, and are increasing maximum maintenance loans for living costs for the 2025/26 academic year by 3.1%, in line with the forecast rate of inflation.Student loans have significant protections for borrowers and are subsidised by the government. For lower earners, who will not repay much of their loan, any outstanding loan balance, including interest built up, will be written off at the end of the loan term. This write-off is the government’s subsidy, and it is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy.The government also provides funding for HE through the Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) to support teaching and students in HE, including expensive-to-deliver subjects, students at risk of discontinuing their studies, and world-leading specialist providers. The total recurrent SPG funding to be distributed by the Office for Students for the 2024/25 academic year is £1,426 million.

What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of Serco's performance against the key performance indicators in their Asylum Accommodation Services contract.

The Home Office monitors the performance of its Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contract (AASC) providers including Serco through a robust performance management framework. Performance data is published periodically and includes performance against key contractual obligations and key performance indicators. Information on key performance indicators is published every quarter and can be found here: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts - GOV.UK.

What steps her Department is taking to review (a) Plan 2 and (b) Plan 5 student loan repayment terms, in the context of decreases in levels of inflation.

It is important that we have a sustainable higher education (HE) funding system that provides opportunities for all, supports students, and maintains the world-leading status of our universities. This government keeps the student finance system under continuous review to ensure that it delivers good value for both students and taxpayers. We are determined that the HE funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students, and the government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university. We will set out this government’s longer term plan for HE reform by summer 2025.Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Regular repayments are based on a fixed percentage of earnings above the applicable student loan repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or the rate of interest. If a borrower’s income drops, so does the amount they repay. If income is below the relevant student loan repayment threshold, or a borrower is not earning, repayments stop.Any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off after the loan term ends at no detriment to the borrower. This protects lower and lower-middle earners in particular. This government subsidy of student loans is a deliberate investment in our young people and the economy.A detailed impact assessment for the current student loan system is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment.To consider both students and taxpayers, and ensure the real value of the loans over the repayment term, interest rates on student loans are linked to inflation by being set in reference to the Retail Price Index (RPI), from the previous March, and applied annually on 1 September until 31 August. The next annual update will be based on the RPI from March 2025 and will apply from 1 September 2025.As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on post-2012 loans are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of Serco's performance against key performance indicators in the Restart Scheme contract.

Serco’s performance against the contracted Key Performance Indicators has been varied. As part of our established performance management intervention regime, the department has therefore implemented intensified support and heightened monitoring for the two Contract Package Areas in which Serco delivers.

What information she holds on the number of student loan borrowers whose repayment balances have increased despite making regular payments.

A borrower is deemed to have made regular repayments if they have made at least four repayments, of any amount, in the 2024/25 financial year. This may include borrowers who stopped their regular repayments or ceased being liable to repay part-way through the 2024/25 financial year.The total number of borrowers whose loan balance has increased despite making regular repayments in the 2024/25 financial year is 2,145,434. This figure covers Plan 2, 5 and 3 borrowers. It has been generated by comparing borrowers’ loan balances on 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.At the end of a borrower’s loan term, any outstanding loan balance, including interest built up, will be written off. This write-off is the government’s subsidy and is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy.

What information his Department holds on the (a) ethnicity and (b) gender of blood donors turned away during (i) outreach and (ii) prescreening in the latest period for which data is available; and what the main reasons were for people being turned away.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England.  NHSBT does not hold data on deferrals resulting from an appointment booking call. It is possible that donors mention a reason which then may result in a deferral during the call, for instance if they have recently travelled or had a tattoo, and are therefore told to wait for an exclusion period, however this information is not recorded.NHSBT holds information on the number of donors deferred during the donor health check. From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, a total of 322,189 donors were deferred. Of these donors:16,832 were of Asian ethnicity, 14,806 were black, 281,042 were white, and 9,509 were “other”;201,065 were female and 121,124 were male, their biological sex at birth; andthe main reason for donor deferral was low haemoglobin. Other main reasons are “medical”, such as medical conditions which result in a deferral for the donor’s health or due to medications that would be present in the donor’s blood, and failed venepuncture.

What information his Department holds on the number of blood donors that were turned away during (a) outreach and (b) pre-screening in the latest period for which data is available; and what the main reasons were for people being turned away.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England.  NHSBT does not hold data on deferrals resulting from an appointment booking call. It is possible that donors mention a reason which then may result in a deferral during the call, for instance if they have recently travelled or had a tattoo, and are therefore told to wait for an exclusion period, however this information is not recorded.NHSBT holds information on the number of donors deferred during the donor health check. From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, a total of 322,189 donors were deferred. Of these donors:16,832 were of Asian ethnicity, 14,806 were black, 281,042 were white, and 9,509 were “other”;201,065 were female and 121,124 were male, their biological sex at birth; andthe main reason for donor deferral was low haemoglobin. Other main reasons are “medical”, such as medical conditions which result in a deferral for the donor’s health or due to medications that would be present in the donor’s blood, and failed venepuncture.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 46823, on Electronic Tagging: Standards, what estimate she has made of the number of offenders who were not tagged because the Probation Service held an incorrect address for them in the last two years.

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost due to data quality issues.