Written questions by McAllister.

Whether adventure golf venues and golf driving ranges offering family or children's tickets will be eligible for the temporary reduced rate of VAT under the Great British Summer Savings scheme; and whether she plans to issue guidance to distinguish between golf activities that qualify as sporting participation and those that may qualify as family attractions under that scheme.

Awaiting answer.

Whether children's meals served on the premises of golf clubs and golf ranges from a dedicated children's menu will qualify for the temporary reduced rate of VAT under the Great British Summer Savings scheme.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations with her Indian counterpart on reports of extrajudicial killings of Sikhs and human‑rights violations in Punjab, including allegations of enforced disappearances and the intimidation of Sikh families.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of DBS and PVG systems in identifying registered sex offenders who have changed their name; and what plans she has to introduce further measures to prevent offenders from obtaining a clean record under a new identity.

The system for managing sex offenders and those that pose a risk of sexual harm is a crucial part of preventing sexual violence and delivering the Government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.Registered sex offenders (RSOs) are required to notify the police of any change of name. Failure to comply with this is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment. Through the Crime and Policing Act we are strengthening the approach by introducing measures which will enable the police to serve a notice on offenders who pose a risk in relation to name change, which requires them to seek authorisation before applying to change their name on identity documents. The measures will also require all RSOs to notify the police of an intended change of name in advance of using it.These measures will be reinforced by operational safeguards to detect unauthorised name changes and operate alongside existing safeguards within the criminal record disclosure regime.Where somebody applies for a criminal record certificate issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), they are required to state any names they have previously been known by on the application form and to sign a legal declaration that they have not knowingly provided false information. Failure to disclose previous names, and deliberately avoid detection of previous convictions, would lead an individual to be liable for prosecution.The DBS mitigates the risks posed by offenders not accurately declaring a complete name history on DBS applications through a combination of algorithms and manual checking of data within DBS, local police forces and other government agencies.Arrangements for disclosure and barring in Scotland are devolved, with the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme falling under the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of legislation preventing registered sex offenders from changing identity without detection; and whether she is considering additional safeguards to improve monitoring and compliance.

The system for managing sex offenders and those who pose a risk of sexual harm is a crucial part of preventing sexual violence and delivering our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.Registered sex offenders are required to notify the police of any change of name. Failure to comply with this is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.Through the Crime and Policing Act we are strengthening the approach by introducing measures which will enable the police to serve a notice on offenders who pose a risk in relation to name change which requires them to seek authorisation before applying to change their name on identity documents. We are also introducing a new requirement for all RSOs to notify the police of an intended change of name in advance of using it.These measures will be reinforced by operational safeguards to detect unauthorised name changes.

What assessment she has made of the implications of the proposed UN cybercrime treaty for (a) the UK’s child‑protection framework and (b) the implementation of legislation preventing registered sex offenders from changing identity without detection.

Nothing is more important than keeping children safe - inside and outside the home, and online.The government is firmly committed to tackling all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse and wider reforms to the child protection system to ensure children are safeguarded effectively from wider harms. The UN Cybercrime Convention references the global imperative for action on these crucial issues.With respect to the UK’s child protection framework, our national Families First Partnership programme is rolling out reforms to Family Help, multi-agency child protection and family group decision making that will make a real difference to children and families. Government has confirmed £2.4 billion funding for the programme over the next three years.The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act marks the biggest overhaul of children’s social care in a generation. It includes a duty on safeguarding partners to establish new multi-agency child protection teams in every local authority area in England. Multi-agency child protection teams will bring a clear, sharp focus to child protection concerns, identify and respond to all types of significant harm - including online - and advise and guide their local Family Help systems.Regarding registered sex offenders, the system for managing sex offenders and those that pose a risk of sexual harm is a crucial part of preventing sexual violence and delivering our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.Registered sex offenders are required to notify the police of any change of name. Failure to comply with this is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment. Through the Crime and Policing Act we are strengthening the approach by introducing measures which will enable the police to serve a notice on offenders who pose a risk in relation to name change, which requires them to seek authorisation before applying to change their name on identity documents. The measures will also require all RSOs to notify the police of an intended change of name in advance of using it.These measures will be reinforced by operational safeguards to detect unauthorised name changes.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing the rate of emergency diagnosis on five-year survival rates for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancers such as acute myeloid leukaemia, as early and quickly as possible to improve outcomes.To tackle late diagnoses of acute myeloid leukaemia, the National Health Service is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.The NHS will diagnose acute myeloid leukaemia earlier and will treat it faster. In April 2026, the Department announced its plan to open four new community diagnostic centres during 2026/27. The Department also announced a further 32 centres, which will be expanded and enhanced. The 36 centres are backed by a £237 million Government investment.To improve survival, the National Cancer Plan for England commits to reducing the number of rare cancers diagnosed in emergency settings, such as acute myeloid leukaemia. The Department and NHS England will address this by publishing regular data on the number of these cancers diagnosed in emergency settings, as a proxy for late or ineffective diagnosis. Adding this to the basket of early diagnosis metrics will help incentivise systems and providers to focus on earlier diagnosis of blood cancers.

What the Department’s policy is on reviewing whistleblowing reports where the individual concerned does not wish to disclose their identity.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to encouraging individuals to speak up and raise concerns where they believe wrongdoing has occurred or behaviour falls below expected standards. Individuals are encouraged to disclose their identity and/or contact details to support appropriate safeguarding, assessment and investigation. However, a decision not to disclose identity or contact details does not prevent a concern from being assessed. Information relating to such cases is handled in accordance with confidentiality requirements and the Department will investigate the concern as far as is possible based on the information available.

What steps she is taking to help reduce the cost of living for working parents.

It is our ambition that families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, improving the life chances for every child, and the work choices for every parent. The evidence is clear that high quality early education and childcare boosts child development, especially for the most disadvantaged children, and makes it easier for parents to work. Through our best start in life strategy, we are ensuring that families across the country can access affordable early education and childcare that supports them to achieve and thrive.As the government builds a stronger economy with sustainable public finances, it is continuing to invest in the early years sector, supporting the successful delivery of the entitlements. In 2026/27, we are expecting to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24. The successful expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents is saving eligible families using their full entitlement an average of £8,000 per year.National average funding rate increases continue to reflect forecast cost pressures on the early years sector, including the National Living Wage announced at Autumn Budget 2025, and go further, taking into account the wider workforce pressures felt by the sector since April 2025.We want to look at how we can make government support simpler for providers and parents, improve access and increase the overall impact for children and families. We will work across government to look at how early education and childcare support provided by government works for families and children. We will be driving take up of the 15-hour entitlements to ensure that disadvantaged children are benefiting, holding local authorities to account for their take up through the Local Government Outcomes Framework to ensure those children and households that stand to benefit the most do so.

What assessment her Department has made of the level of waiting times for Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor tests; and what steps she is taking to ensure trainees can complete the qualification process within the validity period of their theory test certificates.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not hold data on the current waiting time for an approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 or part 3 test at any of its test centres. ADI examiners are a national team and are not assigned to specific test centres.There are currently 36 full time equivalent driving examiners employed by the DVSA who can conduct ADI part 2 and 3 tests. DVSA has ongoing training and recruitment with its next training course starting in May for six new driving examiners, with two further courses planned later in the year.

What assessment the Department has made of variation in liver cancer survival outcomes between integrated care systems; and what steps it is taking to reduce that variation.

As set out in the National Cancer Plan, the Department is committed to increasing survival rates across all cancer types, including liver cancer. We are working to end the postcode lottery for cancer care, by increasing access to cancer services, expanding screening, and modernising the entirety of the cancer pathway.  We will continue to implement the community liver health checks programme which proactively offers fibroscans to people with cirrhosis and fatty liver disease, which will identify 4,000 patients each year at high-risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma.The recently published National Cancer Plan sets out how we will deliver a crackdown on geographical inequalities in cancer care to drive up standards across England. New cancer manuals will set out what good care looks like, with regional partnerships of health leaders and clinicians utilising data to drive improvements where services are falling short.National Health Service regions and Cancer Alliances will jointly identify underperforming trusts and provide intensive support, including leadership intervention, peer-to-peer mentoring, seconding senior managers from stronger trusts, and access to £200 million of ringfenced cancer funding in 2026/27 to improve cancer pathway performance and reduce delays. We publish survival data by integrated care board, with further information available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cancer-survival-in-england/cancers-diagnosed-2016-to-2020-followed-up-to-2021

What estimate the Department has made of waiting times for diagnostic imaging for suspected liver cancer; and what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times in diagnosis.

The Department recognises the importance of reducing cancer diagnostic waiting times which is why we have committed to meeting all of the cancer waiting time standards, including the 28-day faster diagnosis standard (FDS), by 2029. This will improve outcomes for all cancers, including liver cancer.We do not hold waiting time data specifically on diagnostic imaging for suspected liver cancer. While we collect data on the FDS performance for suspected upper gastrointestinal cancer, this does not differentiate between imaging and non-imaging pathways. FDS performance for suspected upper gastrointestinal cancer has increased 2.9% from 73.2% in January 2025 to 76.1% in January 2026, exceeding the 75% performance target.We will improve waiting time performance by modernising the entire cancer pathway, expanding diagnostic capacity and streamlining diagnostic services. This modernisation will be supported by a £6 billion investment in diagnostic and urgent care capacity which will transform diagnostic care and provide the National Health Service with the tools they require to diagnose cancer, including liver cancer, faster and earlier.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help increase accountability in the water sector.

For too long, water companies paid out billions in dividends while pumping sewage into our rivers. This Government is ending that. The Water White Paper creates a single regulator, prevention-focused enforcement, and tougher laws: banning bonuses for failure and ensuring water works for customers, not just shareholders.

What steps he is taking to increase levels of trade with India.

I am delighted to say that we are deepening our trading relationship with India through the UK India Free Trade Agreement, which is estimated to boost UK GDP by £4.8bn, increase wages by £2.2bn, and grow bilateral trade by £25.5bn each year in the long run.Every region and nation in the UK will benefit from the agreement, including a £190m boost for Scotland supported by market access for whisky, advanced manufacturing and financial services access.We are now anticipating the deal entering into force in Spring, ahead of the planned schedule of Summer, provided final issues are resolved with India.

What steps she is taking to meet the target of two-thirds of young people participating in higher-level learning.

We have set an ambition to have two-thirds (66.7%) of young people participating in higher-level learning, academic, technical, or an apprenticeship, by age 25.The Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper sets out our path to meeting that ambition, by raising the status of further education, strengthening our world-leading higher education sector, and introducing more support and flexibility for learners.We are delivering these reforms at pace, with rapid progress across funding, policy development and key launches that are already impacting providers and learners:We are cracking down on rogue university franchising and in November we published our response to the consultation on Franchising in Higher Education.We are delivering on our commitment to expand the TEC programme. In December, we launched applications to become a Wave 2 TEC, and announced CTECs allocations. The national bidding round for Post‑16 and Construction Skills Capacity Funding in non‑devolved areas opened in February.In January, we launched the tender for technical and vocational subject teaching professional development, laid regulations for Initial Teacher Education reform, and refreshed the Teach in FE campaign.We have consulted on Post-16 Level 3 and Below Pathways.At Autumn Budget 2025, we announced over £1.5 billion of funding is being made available across the spending review period into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy. This funds £820 million for the Youth Guarantee, ensuring all young people aged 16-24 years old have access to the support they need to earn and learn.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of the introduction of a salary history ban preventing employers from asking about previous salaries during recruitment processes.

The government is committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination.As part of the 2025 Equality law call for evidence, the Office for Equality and Opportunity sought information about best practices already used by some employers, research from academics and the experience of other countries when it comes to pay transparency measures. Responses to the call for evidence will help us to understand how increased pay transparency may impact women, ethnic minorities, disabled people, and other groups in the workplace.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring employers to show salaries on job adverts.

The government is committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination.As part of the 2025 Equality law call for evidence, the Office for Equality and Opportunity sought information about best practices already used by some employers, research from academics and the experience of other countries when it comes to pay transparency measures. Responses to the call for evidence will help us to understand how increased pay transparency may impact women, ethnic minorities, disabled people, and other groups in the workplace.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that young women are aware of rights on equal pay.

The government is committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination. We have already introduced legislation, through the Employment Rights Act 2025, which will require employers to publish the actions they are taking to close the gender pay gap. Through planned legislation, we will make the right to equal pay effective for ethnic minority and disabled people. We will also put in place measures to ensure that the outsourcing of services can no longer be used by employers to avoid paying equal pay, and we will implement a regulatory and enforcement unit for equal pay. Last year, we launched a public call for evidence on a number of areas of equality policy, including these commitments. We are currently analysing the responses to the call for evidence, which closed at the end of June 2025. We will consider the views from the call for evidence to ensure that the legislation works for everyone. On implementing these measures, up-to-date, clear guidance will be made available so that everyone understands their rights under the law.

What recent progress he has made on improving cooperation between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations.

This government reset relations with the devolved governments, has delivered record funding settlements for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and is bringing pride to communities in every part of the UK with our groundbreaking Pride in Place scheme, including in West Dunbartonshire. My honourable friend’s constituents are best served when both of Scotland’s governments work in partnership, to create jobs and opportunities for all Scots, and that is exactly the approach I have taken in this role.

Whether his Department has considered options for schemes to deliver compensation in line with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's report on Women's State Pension age communications.

The Secretary of State announced in his oral statement of 11 November 2025 that we will retake the decision made in December 2024 as it relates to the communications on State Pension age. This was because findings from a 2007 report had not been drawn to the attention of the previous Secretary of State as its potential relevance to the making of her decision was not evident at the time. The process to retake the decision is underway and it is important that we give this full and proper consideration. Retaking the decision should not be taken as an indication that Government will necessarily decide that it should award financial redress. We will update Parliament on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached and on 2 December 2025 we committed to re-take the decision within three months.