Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Goldsborough this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 181–200 of 221 · this parliament
How many staff were employed in the provision of education in young offenders institutions in each of the last ten financial years.
The information is not available in the form requested. As it does not employ the people concerned, the Ministry of Justice does not hold the data requested.
Whether her Department plans to take steps to increase the number of hours that children in young offender institutions have access to education.
The Government has inherited a criminal justice system in crisis. This has placed an unacceptable strain on the Children and Young People Estate. We are determined to tackle the challenges – giving staff the support they need to reduce violence, increase access to education and help these children to turn their lives around.Following the Education Thematic Review recently published by Ofsted and H M Inspectorate of Prisons, education delivery in young offender institutions, as well as wider performance, is under review.The Youth Custody Service (YCS) is committed to promoting the development of each child in its care by delivering a range of learning and enrichment activities that are individualised, responsive to children’s needs, and aligned with trauma-informed care. This is an integrated whole-systems approach involving various professionals. Education providers are working alongside subject-matter experts (Heads of Education, Skills and Work) and Governors to develop broad and balanced curriculums that facilitate the holistic development of all children in the YCS’s care. This includes access to vocational training and creative learning.The Children and Young People’s Strategy that is being developed will provide greater detail about our long-term vision for the future of the youth estate, with education and wellbeing at its centre.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many Water Abstraction Licenses were not renewed in each of the last 10 financial years.
Financial YearNumber of water abstraction licences that were not renewed because no renewal application was received, the application was withdrawn or rejected as incompleteNumber of water abstraction licences that were not renewed because the application was refused 2016-201714502017-201819172018-20194712019-20203902020-20214002021-20227112022-20234302023-20241022
Food and Rural Affairs, how many Water Abstraction License applications were (a) made and (b) granted in each of the last 10 financial years.
a) Applications for new full licences, normal variations and substantial variations: 2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025TotalTotal20632031168212604254832432652194475 b) Of those applications, granted licences below: 2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025TotalTotal642542802884065534955563181463370
Food and Rural Affairs, how many Water Abstraction Licenses were operational in each of the last 10 financial years.
The table below shows the number of water abstraction licences (temporary, full and transfer) live for all or part of the financial year for each of the last ten financial years. Financial yearNo. of water abstraction licences1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015182341 April 2015 to 31 March 2016180271 April 2016 to 31 March 2017177651 April 2017 to 31 March 2018172491 April 2018 to 31 March 2019171001 April 2019 to 31 March 2020169401 April 2020 to 31 March 2021171841 April 2021 to 31 March 2022173861 April 2022 to 31 March 2023178141 April 2023 to 31 March 202417779
What steps her Department is taking to improve young offenders institutions' grades for overall effectiveness under the education inspection framework.
The Government has inherited a criminal justice system in crisis. This has placed an unacceptable strain on the Children and Young People Estate. We are determined to tackle the challenges – giving staff the support they need to reduce violence, increase access to education and help these children to turn their lives around.Following the Education Thematic Review recently published by Ofsted and H M Inspectorate of Prisons, education delivery in young offender institutions, as well as wider performance, is under review.The Youth Custody Service (YCS) is committed to promoting the development of each child in its care by delivering a range of learning and enrichment activities that are individualised, responsive to children’s needs, and aligned with trauma-informed care. This is an integrated whole-systems approach involving various professionals. Education providers are working alongside subject-matter experts (Heads of Education, Skills and Work) and Governors to develop broad and balanced curriculums that facilitate the holistic development of all children in the YCS’s care. This includes access to vocational training and creative learning.The Children and Young People’s Strategy that is being developed will provide greater detail about our long-term vision for the future of the youth estate, with education and wellbeing at its centre.
What steps her Department is taking to ensure that teachers in young offenders institutes receive adequate (a) training and (b) support to help them address potentially challenging behaviour by offenders in those institutes.
All teachers in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) have access to training and continuing professional development led by education providers, based on individual need. Teachers in YOI education departments utilise the behaviour management strategies set by establishments, and those set specifically by the education providers. Establishments have worked together to train staff in behaviour management strategies, to enable all functions to work holistically.We recognise that rates of turnover and attrition have an impact on levels of experience among staff working with young people in YOIs, and we are seeking to address this. The Youth Custody Service (YCS) has recruited a dedicated national Head of Learning and Enrichment and Heads of Education, Skills and Work locally. These are all directly employed people with education leadership experience, whose role involves driving up quality standards. The YCS has worked with Ofsted to provide workshops to Governors, Deputy Governors, YCS central senior leaders and Heads of Education Skills and Work, to support them in leading improvements in the delivery of a rich curriculum.
If she will issue guidance to staff in young offenders institutes to ensure that the allocation of courses is based on the educational needs of young offenders.
The Government has inherited a criminal justice system in crisis. This has placed an unacceptable strain on the Children and Young People Estate. We are determined to tackle the challenges – giving staff the support they need to reduce violence, increase access to education and help these children to turn their lives around.Following the Education Thematic Review recently published by Ofsted and H M Inspectorate of Prisons, education delivery in young offender institutions, as well as wider performance, is under review.The Youth Custody Service (YCS) is committed to promoting the development of each child in its care by delivering a range of learning and enrichment activities that are individualised, responsive to children’s needs, and aligned with trauma-informed care. This is an integrated whole-systems approach involving various professionals. Education providers are working alongside subject-matter experts (Heads of Education, Skills and Work) and Governors to develop broad and balanced curriculums that facilitate the holistic development of all children in the YCS’s care. This includes access to vocational training and creative learning.The Children and Young People’s Strategy that is being developed will provide greater detail about our long-term vision for the future of the youth estate, with education and wellbeing at its centre.
What the employee turnover rate in (a) young offenders institutions and (b) Category (i) A, (ii) B, (iii) C and (iv) D estates was in each of the last 10 financial years.
Data relating to the leaving rates in prisons, broken down by the financial years and prison categories requested, has been provided in table 1 (below). Table 1: Underlying leaving rate of permanent staff, by prison category - financial years 2014/15 to 2023/24Financial YearCategory ACategory BCategory CCategory DYCS2014/156.0%8.8%8.4%7.8%11.1%2015/164.9%9.6%8.5%7.8%10.6%2016/176.1%10.5%9.6%7.0%11.0%2017/186.3%11.1%9.7%7.6%10.5%2018/197.5%12.0%11.5%6.7%9.4%2019/207.9%13.2%12.1%7.7%11.4%2020/217.7%9.9%9.7%7.6%7.8%2021/2210.4%15.7%15.0%10.2%12.2%2022/2311.9%15.5%14.2%10.5%17.0%2023/249.6%13.4%12.7%10.3%17.3%Notes1. Movements due to machinery of Government changes or due to staff transferring to or from the private sector as a result of changes in the management of establishments are not included in these tables.2. Permanent staff are those with a permanent contract of employment with HMPPS.3. The leavers figures relate to those who have left HMPPS but do not include voluntary early departure or redundancy.4. Prisons assigned to the category they were on 31 March 2024 or the category they were when they closed. Does not include prisons in the Women’s Estate.5. Coverage is public sector prisons in England and Wales.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the horticulture sector.
The Government appreciates and values the vital work of the horticulture industry and, as part of our mission-driven government, we are committed to working with colleagues across Whitehall to support the sector. Underlining this commitment, the Seasonal Worker visa route has been confirmed for 2025, with a total of 43,000 Seasonal Worker visas available for horticulture next year. This is broadly the same allocation as the sectors received in 2023 and 2024, which comfortably met demand. This will help the sector secure the labour and skills needed to bring high quality British produce to market. We are also continuing support for crop Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs) investing in R&D for breeding to improve crop varieties supporting crop resilience and efficiency.
Food and Rural Affairs, (a) how many and (b) what value of water resource management grants were (i) granted and (ii) rejected by the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last 10 financial years.
The following table lists the answer: Qty RejectedValue RejectedQty GrantedValue Granted2017/180£ -2£215,974.422018/1911£1,708,260.72121£8,912,028.962019/2014£20,762.30179£ 311,127.362020/215£5,374.00201£ 203,902.002021/220£ -0£ -2022/23103£3,287,841.96381£2,698,059.352023/2419£2,047,450.67423£6,811,257.632024/257£393,871.55329£1,673,697.22
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of building a new settlement in Norfolk.
This government’s New Towns Programme will include large-scale new communities built on greenfield land and separated from other nearby settlements, but also a larger number of urban extensions and urban regeneration schemes that will work with the grain of development in any given area.The New Towns Taskforce will advise ministers on appropriate locations for our next generation of new towns. It will deliver a final shortlist of recommendations within 12 months, but will have the freedom to share conclusions in respect of specific sites earlier if beneficial to the government’s housebuilding drive.On 4th November, the New Towns Taskforce launched a call for evidence to explore opportunities for large developments. This call for evidence will be open until Friday 13 December 2024.
How many and what proportion of workers aged above 16 years old are paid within 50p of the (a) National Minimum Wage and (b) National Living Wage in (i) East Anglia and (ii) Norfolk.
The Low Pay Commission publishes a report that provides a coverage of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) each year, shortly before the rates are updated in April. The report provides a Local Authority and Regional breakdown of NMW and NLW coverage, including those paid below or within 5p of the applicable rate. Data on those who are within 50p of the rates is not provided as part of the report.
What estimate he has made of the number of workers that will be affected by the increase to the (a) National Minimum Wage and (b) National Living Wage in Norfolk.
In total, over 3 million workers are expected to receive a pay rise due to increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage in April 2025. We will also publish an Impact Assessment alongside the legislation that implements the increase to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. The Impact Assessment will provide a regional and country breakdown on the number of workers benefitting from an increase.
Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a devolution deal for Norfolk on (a) local housing supply and (b) economic growth.
I met with the Leader of Norfolk County Council on 13 November to discuss next steps for devolution in the area. The Government is committed to transferring power out of Westminster and into local communities, with landmark legislation to expand devolution across England. This will devolve further powers to local leaders over areas such as employment support, housing and strategic planning, adult education, and skills to drive economic growth.
How many estates were subject to inheritance tax in South Norfolk constituency in the (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21 and (c) 2021-22 financial year.
The Government publishes the latest Inheritance Tax liabilities statistics at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-liabilities-statistics. Table 12.9 of the Inheritance Tax liabilities statistics has the estimated numbers of estates liable to tax on death by UK (Westminster) Parliamentary Constituency, for the latest available tax year, which is currently 2021-22.In that year, 60 estates were liable for inheritance tax in the South Norfolk Parliamentary constituency. The equivalent number of estates in 2020-21 and 2019-20 were 56 and 48 respectively.
With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, what estimate he has made of the amount of funding that will be allocated to NHS services in Norfolk in each of the next five years.
At the Autumn Budget, the Government announced a £22.6 billion increase in day-to-day health spending and a £3.1 billion increase in the capital budget over this year and next. Phase 2 of the Spending Review will consider overall funding for subsequent years. For next year, 2025/26, the allocation for the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board will be set out alongside planning guidance for the next financial year at the earliest opportunity, and is therefore not currently available.
How many heat pumps are installed on Government property.
Information on specific technologies such as heat pumps used across the Government estate is not held centrally. Across the office estate managed by Cabinet Office’s Government Property Agency, there are 2 buildings which are heated in part by heat pumps.
Whether her Department has had discussions with the Magistrates Association on reports of the use of targets for the number of Single Justice Procedures completed.
Magistrates are free to take as long as they need when making decisions on any criminal case, including those dealt with under the Single Justice Procedure (SJP). There is no set target for the number of cases decided in an SJP session and courts have been reminded of this.We have not discussed this matter with the Magistrates’ Association.
What steps her Department is taking to ensure that people engaging in the Single Justice Procedure are aware of the HM Courts and Tribunal Service guidance which states that courts should not issue targets for the number of Single Justice cases that must be completed.
Courts have been reminded that no targets have been set for the number of cases to be completed in a session.Listing is a judicial responsibility and function. Local Judicial Business Groups decide how much work is assigned to court hearings, including Single Justice Procedure (SJP) sessions. If a magistrate does not complete the cases allocated to a SJP session, the cases can be picked up in a subsequent session.The Government has listened to the concerns raised on SJP and as a first step has asked HM Courts and Tribunals to redesign the SJP Notice. We will also be calling in SJP prosecutors to discuss ways in which we could ensure public interest is considered by them in advance of making prosecutions. The SJP is vital for the efficient running of the magistrates court. However, it must operate fairly and effectively. We will not tolerate poor practice, and we will not hesitate to fundamentally reform the system if that is required.