Written questions by Thomas.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential role of business events in improving and building international partnerships.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) recognises that well‑designed business events play an important role in strengthening international partnerships. Through initiatives such as the Lancaster House Business Engagement Series, the Department brings senior diplomats together with UK business leaders to share geopolitical insight and deepen understanding of global markets. These events help businesses make informed decisions about international opportunities, supporting stronger commercial links overseas. The FCDO is also expanding its regional outreach through Heads of Mission Roadshows, which allow ambassadors and high commissioners to engage directly with companies across the UK and discuss geopolitical developments relevant to their sectors. In addition, the Department is establishing a Diplomatic Advisory Hub within the British Chambers of Commerce to provide tailored guidance on international risks and partnerships. Early feedback from businesses has been positive, and these initiatives are helping ensure that UK companies are better equipped to build and sustain successful international relationships.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on the Premier League and the Football League.

The Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act and this is available here: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.

What steps his Department is taking to support UK festival organisers with the implementation of the Employment Rights Bill, in the context of the workforce flexibility requirements of the sector.

Festivals are crucial to the UK's culture, providing a platform for emerging artists, supporting local economies and creative jobs, and bringing joy to thousands.The impact on UK festivals will depend on the regulations that we will bring forward following consultation on the measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025.The government will ensure there is sufficient time for businesses to familiarise themselves with these new employment rights before they come into force, and we intend to provide clear guidance for employers and for workers in advance of implementation.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 is enforced proportionally across venues of varying capacity.

The Government is committed to ensuring the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 is implemented in a proportionate and practicable way.An implementation period of at least 24 months is now underway, giving those responsible for premises and events sufficient time and support to meet their new obligations. It will also allow time for the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to establish its new regulatory function.The public deserve to feel safe when visiting premises and attending events and it is right that people responsible for certain premises and events should take appropriate, reasonably practicable steps to protect the public and those working at the venues from the harmful impacts and effects of terrorism.The Act establishes a tiered approach, with those responsible for premises and events in scope required to fulfil different requirements according to the number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present.Whether the Act applies to a particular premises or events will depend on several factors. Premises may be in scope if they consist of at least one building, are wholly or mainly used for one or more of the uses specified in Schedule 1, and 200 or more people can reasonably be expected to be present at the premises at the same time.Where it can be reasonably expected that between 200 and 799 people will be present at the premises at the same time, it will be a ‘standard tier’ premises. Should the premises reasonably expect 800 or more people to be present at the premises at the same time, it will be an ‘enhanced tier’ premises.Events may be in scope, and will be in the ‘enhanced tier’, if they take place in a building or on land, 800 or more people are reasonably expected to be present at the same time, and it is accessible to members of the public who have paid, have a ticket or pass, or are members or guests of a club, association or similar body.The requirements of each tier vary accordingly, acknowledging that larger premises and events may be impacted to a greater extent by an attack and should be expected to do more.For the standard tier, requirements are centred around simple, low-cost activities surrounding procedures, with costs relating primarily to time spent. There is no requirement to put in place physical measures in the standard tier.Furthermore, the reasonably practicable standard of requirements allows procedures and measures to be tailored to the specific circumstances of a premises or event and the person responsible for them.The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will act as the regulator. Whilst the SIA will have enforcement powers under the Act, the Government’s clear direction is for the regulator to provide support, advice and guidance in the first instance.The SIA will only use formal enforcement tools where necessary to drive compliance. Such enforcement measures are an important component of compliance, as they give the SIA the necessary powers to deal with persistent or serious non-compliance.Any subsequent sanctions will be determined based on whether the non-compliance is at a location in scope of the standard tier or the enhanced tier and will be proportionate to the individual circumstances of the premises or event.

What steps her Department is taking to meet to meet the ambition for kinship care set out by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.

Following the Care Review, the government appointed the first ever National Kinship Care Ambassador and updated the Kinship Care Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities, which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670d3ed5e84ae1fd8592f2fa/Kinship_Care_-_statutory_guidance_for_local_authorities__October_2024.pdf.The government has also extended both the delivery of over 140 kinship carer peer support groups across England and the virtual school head role (on a non-statutory basis) to include championing the education, attendance, and attainment of children in kinship care.Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we will mandate all local authorities in England to publish their local kinship offer and offer Family Group Decision Making at pre-proceedings where that is in the child’s best interests.The department will soon launch a Kinship Allowance Pilot to support eligible kinship carers with the costs of raising a child, which will support up to 4,500 children in kinship care in pilot local authorities. Any wider rollout of this will be informed by findings of the evaluation.Kinship leave is also in scope of government’s parental leave review, which will recommend improvements to the current parental leave system.

What steps her Department is taking to deliver accessible training and support services for kinship carers.

Following the Care Review, the government appointed the first ever National Kinship Care Ambassador and updated the Kinship Care Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities, which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670d3ed5e84ae1fd8592f2fa/Kinship_Care_-_statutory_guidance_for_local_authorities__October_2024.pdf.The government has also extended both the delivery of over 140 kinship carer peer support groups across England and the virtual school head role (on a non-statutory basis) to include championing the education, attendance, and attainment of children in kinship care.Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we will mandate all local authorities in England to publish their local kinship offer and offer Family Group Decision Making at pre-proceedings where that is in the child’s best interests.The department will soon launch a Kinship Allowance Pilot to support eligible kinship carers with the costs of raising a child, which will support up to 4,500 children in kinship care in pilot local authorities. Any wider rollout of this will be informed by findings of the evaluation.Kinship leave is also in scope of government’s parental leave review, which will recommend improvements to the current parental leave system.

What steps she is taking to financially support kinship carers.

Following the Care Review, the government appointed the first ever National Kinship Care Ambassador and updated the Kinship Care Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities, which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670d3ed5e84ae1fd8592f2fa/Kinship_Care_-_statutory_guidance_for_local_authorities__October_2024.pdf.The government has also extended both the delivery of over 140 kinship carer peer support groups across England and the virtual school head role (on a non-statutory basis) to include championing the education, attendance, and attainment of children in kinship care.Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we will mandate all local authorities in England to publish their local kinship offer and offer Family Group Decision Making at pre-proceedings where that is in the child’s best interests.The department will soon launch a Kinship Allowance Pilot to support eligible kinship carers with the costs of raising a child, which will support up to 4,500 children in kinship care in pilot local authorities. Any wider rollout of this will be informed by findings of the evaluation.Kinship leave is also in scope of government’s parental leave review, which will recommend improvements to the current parental leave system.

How much funding her Department has provided for programmes that support the mental health of teachers and school staff in the last 12 months.

The department is funding the charity, Education Support, to deliver free mental health and wellbeing support to school and college leaders. Professional supervision enables leaders to work with qualified and experienced supervisors to develop strategies to support their mental wellbeing.A new three-year contract was awarded to Education Support to deliver this support from April 2024 to March 2027 at a value of up to £1.5 million with the aim of supporting approximately 2,500 leaders. Over 1,300 leaders have been supported since April 2024.Funding figures for the last 12 months are not available. For the 2025/26 financial year, approximately £500,000 is expected to be spent.

When she plans to extend the Kinship Allowance programme to all eligible local authorities.

Following the Care Review, the government appointed the first ever National Kinship Care Ambassador and updated the Kinship Care Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities, which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670d3ed5e84ae1fd8592f2fa/Kinship_Care_-_statutory_guidance_for_local_authorities__October_2024.pdf.The government has also extended both the delivery of over 140 kinship carer peer support groups across England and the virtual school head role (on a non-statutory basis) to include championing the education, attendance, and attainment of children in kinship care.Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we will mandate all local authorities in England to publish their local kinship offer and offer Family Group Decision Making at pre-proceedings where that is in the child’s best interests.The department will soon launch a Kinship Allowance Pilot to support eligible kinship carers with the costs of raising a child, which will support up to 4,500 children in kinship care in pilot local authorities. Any wider rollout of this will be informed by findings of the evaluation.Kinship leave is also in scope of government’s parental leave review, which will recommend improvements to the current parental leave system.

What consideration her Department has given to using SEND resources to fund increased staffing and provision at mainstream schools; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on the number of children who would remain in mainstream education.

The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, ensuring teachers have the tools to better identify and support children before unmet needs escalate, as well as ensuring specialist special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision schools cater to those with the most complex needs.On 12 December, the government announced a £3 billion investment to deliver around 50,000 specialist places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The funding will be distributed to local authorities for them to spend on new places in mainstream settings (including SEN units), on adaptations to mainstream settings to make them more inclusive, or on special schools where required.We will bring forward a full Schools White Paper in the new year, underpinned by our belief that high standards and inclusion are two sides of the same coin.

What assessment her Department has made of trends in the number of students with SEND being excluded from school on the economy in the long-term.

The department regularly monitors trends in suspension and permanent exclusion rates for various pupil groups and undertakes regular reviews of the evidence concerning the long-term outcomes of pupils who have experienced a suspension or permanent exclusion. We are aware that there is an association with adverse life outcomes for pupils who have been excluded.

What steps her Department is taking to support teacher health and wellbeing.

The department is working in partnership with the sector to improve staff mental health and wellbeing, and boost retention.We are continuing to fund the charity, Education Support, to provide free professional supervision and counselling to school and college leaders. Professional supervision enables leaders to work with qualified supervisors to develop strategies to support their mental wellbeing. Since April 2024, over 1,300 leaders have been supported.The department has also worked with the sector and mental health experts to co-create the Education Staff Wellbeing Charter. The Charter sets out commitments from the department, Ofsted, and education settings to protect and promote the wellbeing of staff. As of December 2025, over 4,200 schools and colleges have signed up to the Charter.The department has developed its Improve Workload and Wellbeing service alongside school leaders, which contains a range of resources for schools to reduce workload and improve staff wellbeing.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the health and wellbeing of teachers.

Supporting the wellbeing of our expert education workforce is critical to this government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for children and young people.The department tracks teacher wellbeing through the longitudinal study, the Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders. Wave 4 shows improved wellbeing across all Office for National Statistics (ONS) validated personal wellbeing measures in 2025. Average life satisfaction, happiness, and feelings of life being worthwhile all increased, while average anxiety decreased.We also compare teacher and leader wellbeing with the wider population in England. In 2025, these measures remain lower for teachers and leaders.We commission research to assess teacher wellbeing. For example, the inclusion of ONS-validated personal wellbeing questions in the School and College Voice Survey (SCVS) to capture seasonal differences. The latest data from June 2025 shows that all four wellbeing measures remain broadly in line with the same period last year.More broadly, our ‘Improve workload and wellbeing for school staff’ service, developed alongside school leaders, contains resources for schools to reduce workload and improve wellbeing. The service can be accessed here: https://improve-workload-and-wellbeing-for-school-staff.education.gov.uk/. The ’Education staff wellbeing charter’ sets out commitments from the department, Ofsted, schools and colleges to protect and promote staff wellbeing. Almost 4,300 schools and colleges have signed up. The charter can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-staff-wellbeing-charter.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the US National Security Strategy, dated November 2025.

Just last weekend, 24 hours after the National Security Strategy was launched, I was in the US at the Reagan National Defence Forum – and spoke about this very issue with US and European Defence leaders. The US remains a critical ally and we will continue to work closely with them on NATO and wider Euro-Atlantic security.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2025 on the mental health of (a) publicans and (b) people working in the hospitality sector.

Whilst no formal assessment has been made of the Autumn Budget’s impact on the mental health of publicans or hospitality workers, the Government recognises the pressures they face and the importance of supporting wellbeing and we welcome initiatives like the Hospitality Wellbeing and Development Promise: Wellbeing Promise which promotes mental health and wellbeing across the sector. We continue to meet regularly with the industry, including through the Hospitality Sector Council to co-create solutions that build resilience and address sector challenges.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of neurodiversity training and accountability across civil service departments.

We do not have any specific neurodiversity training available to all Civil Service departments. Civil Service Expectations is an e-learning course for all civil servants which explains why inclusion, diversity and equality is important to the Civil Service and the citizens it serves. We do not actively monitor the training of other departments and departments have delegated authority to develop learning that aligns to their organisational requirements.

What steps his Department is taking to strengthen neurodiversity awareness to ensure that every public servant can thrive equally in the workplace.

The Cabinet Office is taking a range of steps to strengthen neurodiversity awareness and support available. We have established a dedicated Neurodiversity Network, which provides a platform for colleagues to share lived experiences and access resources that promote understanding of neurodiversity across the department and has a senior active Neurodiversity Champion. A Disability Line Manager Toolkit has been launched this year providing clear guidance on recognising neurodiversity, outlines common neurodivergent conditions, and highlights key statistics to build awareness among managers. It also explains the support available within the department, including the Workplace Adjustments Passport. Sessions on the importance of neurodiversity, hosted by our Cabinet Office Diversity Network Champion and Diversity and Inclusion team are run, to help deepen insight and encourage inclusive working practices and we use Line Managers calls to raise awareness. In addition, the Business Disability Forum, delivers regular Lunch and Learn events on neurodiversity. These sessions provide practical guidance, share best practice, and support managers and teams in fostering an inclusive culture.

What steps he is taking to help improve treatment and specialist care of those with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.

We recognise that doctors can find it challenging to diagnose Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) because of the wide range and variability of symptoms, and that the most common type, hypermobile EDS, currently has no specific genetic test.Resources such as the Royal College of General Practitioners’ EDS Toolkit, now maintained by Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, are helping general practitioners (GPs) to better recognise, respond to, and manage EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in primary care. For rarer genetically confirmed types of EDS, NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for EDS.A primary goal of the national diagnostic service is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefit GPs who are on the front line of patient care.Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we are introducing neighbourhood health centres, and deploying multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic support to people with EDS. Patients will benefit from enhanced NHS App functionality, including My Medicines and My Health, and will be able to self-refer to specialist services where appropriate.Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitments on artificial intelligence will give clinicians advanced tools for faster diagnosis, predictive analytics, and personalised care planning. For people with long-term conditions like EDS, this means earlier interventions, better monitoring of complex needs, and more time for clinicians to focus on patient-centred care rather than administrative tasks. The plan also commits to 95% of people with complex needs to have a personalised care plan by 2027.The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026. It will set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. By setting out how we will train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs, the 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure that services are more accessible, proactive, and tailored for all patients, including those with EDS.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are quickly and accurately diagnosed.

We recognise that doctors can find it challenging to diagnose Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) because of the wide range and variability of symptoms, and that the most common type, hypermobile EDS, currently has no specific genetic test.Resources such as the Royal College of General Practitioners’ EDS Toolkit, now maintained by Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, are helping general practitioners (GPs) to better recognise, respond to, and manage EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in primary care. For rarer genetically confirmed types of EDS, NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for EDS.A primary goal of the national diagnostic service is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefit GPs who are on the front line of patient care.Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we are introducing neighbourhood health centres, and deploying multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic support to people with EDS. Patients will benefit from enhanced NHS App functionality, including My Medicines and My Health, and will be able to self-refer to specialist services where appropriate.Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitments on artificial intelligence will give clinicians advanced tools for faster diagnosis, predictive analytics, and personalised care planning. For people with long-term conditions like EDS, this means earlier interventions, better monitoring of complex needs, and more time for clinicians to focus on patient-centred care rather than administrative tasks. The plan also commits to 95% of people with complex needs to have a personalised care plan by 2027.The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026. It will set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. By setting out how we will train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs, the 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure that services are more accessible, proactive, and tailored for all patients, including those with EDS.

What steps he is taking to help improve recruitment and training of specialists in Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.

We recognise that doctors can find it challenging to diagnose Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) because of the wide range and variability of symptoms, and that the most common type, hypermobile EDS, currently has no specific genetic test.Resources such as the Royal College of General Practitioners’ EDS Toolkit, now maintained by Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, are helping general practitioners (GPs) to better recognise, respond to, and manage EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in primary care. For rarer genetically confirmed types of EDS, NHS England commissions a national diagnostic service for EDS.A primary goal of the national diagnostic service is to educate referring doctors about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefit GPs who are on the front line of patient care.Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we are introducing neighbourhood health centres, and deploying multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic support to people with EDS. Patients will benefit from enhanced NHS App functionality, including My Medicines and My Health, and will be able to self-refer to specialist services where appropriate.Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan’s commitments on artificial intelligence will give clinicians advanced tools for faster diagnosis, predictive analytics, and personalised care planning. For people with long-term conditions like EDS, this means earlier interventions, better monitoring of complex needs, and more time for clinicians to focus on patient-centred care rather than administrative tasks. The plan also commits to 95% of people with complex needs to have a personalised care plan by 2027.The Government will publish the 10 Year Workforce Plan in spring 2026. It will set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. By setting out how we will train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs, the 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure that services are more accessible, proactive, and tailored for all patients, including those with EDS.