Written questions by Stainbank.

What steps Civil Service Pensions is taking to improve the process for the provision of the death in service benefit pay-out to bereaved families.

The Scheme Manager and the Scheme Administrator work in close partnership to ensure that all death in service cases are treated as a matter of the highest priority.To improve the provision of benefits to bereaved families, the new Civil Service Pensions Scheme Contract has been strategically designed with enhanced performance metrics and more rigorous key performance measures. These improved indicators allow the Scheme Manager to exert greater leverage over the Administrator, ensuring that service delivery meets strict standards and that any delays are met with robust financial penalties.Furthermore, the Cabinet Office has implemented a standardised contract management policy to provide consistent, high-level oversight. This ensures that the administration of death in service benefits is not only closely monitored but held to a level of accountability that directly supports a more efficient and responsive process for claimants.

Whether the exemption for basic or new state pension to not have to pay small amounts of tax through simple assessment from April 2027 will apply to recipients of the State Earning Related Pension Scheme.

The State Pension is taxable income along with other pension income. As the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) is extra money on top of the basic State Pension, it is also taxable. The Budget has confirmed that the basic and new State Pension will be uprated by 4.8% in 2026-27, in line with our commitment to the Triple Lock. This means pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not pay income tax in 2026-27. The Budget also announced that the Government will ease the administrative burden for pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027-28. The Government will set out more detail next year.

What assessment he has made of the impact of the Scottish Government's real terms reduction in College Funding since 2021 to the delivery of the industrial strategy in Scotland.

Colleges have a critical role in ensuring the young people of Scotland can access secure, skilled jobs, and in fostering innovation, developing a skilled workforce, and driving economic growth. This is why we have committed to hundreds of millions of additional funding for colleges in the Industrial Strategy. However, the funding of colleges in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government. Scotland’s colleges have had their funding cut by 20% between 2021/22 and 2025/26. The Spending Review was historic for Scotland and delivered the largest real terms settlement for the Scottish Government since devolution, with an average £50.9 billion per year between 2026-27 and 2028-29. Last week’s Budget has boosted this by a further £820m. As the UK Government has delivered a record funding settlement to the Scottish Government, it is up to them to ensure that young people will benefit from these investments.

Whether she intends to conduct a review of technical service arrangements involving non-European vehicle manufacturing and regulatory entities to ensure alignment with UK/EU regulatory standards.

I am satisfied that that the current type approval regime ensures that only reputable and trustworthy entities are involved in the certification process.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring a) all certification bodies involved in vehicle approvals to be formally listed as designated Technical Services under UN ECE regulations and b) introducing penalties for misrepresentation by certification bodies or manufacturers of vehicles on UK roads.

I am satisfied that that the current type approval regime ensures that only reputable and trustworthy entities are involved in the certification process.

What assessment she has made of the potential for accelerating asylum hotel closures in the nations and regions of the United Kingdom that will be hosting large military site accommodation for Asylum seekers.

Hotel closure will be prioritised based on a wide range of criteria. The hotel exit plan will continue to be carefully managed to ensure that all supported asylum seekers are accommodated in suitable alternative accommodation, including large sites, elsewhere in the estate.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of creating a public registry detailing entities involved in vehicle certification approvals.

I am satisfied that that the current type approval regime ensures that only reputable and trustworthy entities are involved in the certification process.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring vehicle manufacturers to disclose the role of entities involved in vehicle certification processes.

I am satisfied that that the current type approval regime ensures that only reputable and trustworthy entities are involved in the certification process.

What steps she has taken to establish an independent audit mechanism for ISO/SAE 21434 and UN R155/156 compliance.

Approval certificates for UN Regulations 155 and 156 can be issued by an applicable national approval authority, which is the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) in the UK, and are mutually recognised internationally. Any country’s approval authority must have its methods and criteria used for assessment of compliance to the regulations scrutinised by other approval authorities before it can issue any approvals. ISO/SAE 21434 is not part of the legislative requirement but provides useful guidance for compliance with R.155 and R156.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reduce spending on the Civil Service.

This Government is relentlessly targeting waste and driving efficiencies to deliver a leaner Civil Service. At the Autumn Budget the Government announced that back-office administration costs will be reduced by 16% by 2029-30, to save money and focus resources on frontline services. Examples of these departmental savings include DSIT’s use of AI and automation to free up staff from administrative tasks, which will deliver £7m of efficiencies by 2028-29. Additionally, the MOD will deliver £905m of technical efficiencies by 2028-29 through digitisation and modernisation, acquisition reform, and sustainability initiatives. Additional, cross-government examples include cutting government credit card spending by £25 million in the first four months since new rules were introduced by the Cabinet Office in March. In addition, the Plan for London, part of the Places for Growth programme, was launched in May this year and will involve the closure of no fewer than 11 buildings by 2030, delivering annual savings of £94 million. Most notably, 102 Petty France, Caxton House and 39 Victoria Street will all be closed during the programme, as it consolidates the central London estate.

What steps the Office for the Impact Economy is taking with social investors to increase funding for communities.

Social investors and philanthropists across the country are already working in partnership with local community organisations to improve people’s daily lives. The Office for the Impact Economy will act as the front door to social investors who want to partner with the government to unlock funding for local communities. The Office will create partnerships, including investment opportunities, to scale up the impact of public investment and develop opportunities for communities across the UK. This includes opportunities to make government spending go further on priority programmes such as Pride in Place and Neighbourhood Health Services.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of prioritising cyber security in public procurement contracts for national infrastructure projects.

This Government recognises that cyber crime is a significant threat to our economy, to our businesses, and to the livelihoods of our workers.As set out in the National Procurement Policy Statement, contracting authorities are required to identify the cyber and other security risks associated with their procurements and take appropriate action to mitigate them.

Whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on the rollout of universal thrombectomy services.

Department ministers regularly have discussions with colleagues across Government on issues of cross-border interest. There have been no specific meetings held recently on thrombectomy services.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing offences for impersonating serving armed forces personnel or veterans.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has made no assessment of introducing new offences for impersonating Armed Forces personnel or Veterans and has no current plans to consider criminalising such impersonation, given that existing measures already apply in certain circumstances. Veterans are expected to adhere to the guidance regarding the wearing of medals. However, it is not a criminal offence for Veterans, or the public, to wear medals to which they are not entitled unless, by doing so, an individual is seeking to make personal gain or defraud others. The Fraud Act 2006 (and common law fraud offences in Scotland) make it an offence for anyone to fraudulently wear uniforms or medals, or by pretending to be or have been in the Armed Forces, if for financial gain or to cause disadvantage to others. Further, under the Uniforms Act 1894, it is an offence for anyone to wear an Armed Forces uniform without permission, or to wear any dress having the appearance, or bearing any regimental or distinctive marks, of any such uniform. This does not, however, prevent individuals wearing a uniform for theatrical or similar purposes. Whenever it is suspected that an individual might be committing an offence, as described above, the matter should be reported to the civilian police.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of criminalising those who impersonate a (a) serving member of the armed forces or (b) veteran.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has made no assessment of introducing new offences for impersonating Armed Forces personnel or Veterans and has no current plans to consider criminalising such impersonation, given that existing measures already apply in certain circumstances. Veterans are expected to adhere to the guidance regarding the wearing of medals. However, it is not a criminal offence for Veterans, or the public, to wear medals to which they are not entitled unless, by doing so, an individual is seeking to make personal gain or defraud others. The Fraud Act 2006 (and common law fraud offences in Scotland) make it an offence for anyone to fraudulently wear uniforms or medals, or by pretending to be or have been in the Armed Forces, if for financial gain or to cause disadvantage to others. Further, under the Uniforms Act 1894, it is an offence for anyone to wear an Armed Forces uniform without permission, or to wear any dress having the appearance, or bearing any regimental or distinctive marks, of any such uniform. This does not, however, prevent individuals wearing a uniform for theatrical or similar purposes. Whenever it is suspected that an individual might be committing an offence, as described above, the matter should be reported to the civilian police.

Media and Sport, how much funding will be allocated to (a) tennis and (b) padel in each year until 2028.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this. The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport in England through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit as many people as possible.

What steps his Department is taking to protect workers’ terms and conditions including through the implementation of short-time working arrangements in the construction industry.

The Construction Industry Working Rule Agreement, collectively negotiated between employer organisations and trade unions to establish agreed terms and conditions, is a matter for the industry. This agreement provides a consistent framework for fair treatment of workers across the sector, supporting stability and clarity for both employers and employees.Looking ahead, the Employment Rights Bill will modernise our employment rights legislation. It will provide a new baseline of security for workers including through day one protection from unfair dismissal, increasing protection from sexual harassment, strengthening Statutory Sick Pay and ending exploitative zero hours contacts and tackling fire and rehire.

With reference to her Statement on Asylum Policy of 17 of November, Official Report column 509, what the qualifying tests for family reunion for refugees applying through the work and study route will be.

A refugee who is given core protection will have no automatic right to bring family to the UK. Refugees will be able to switch into a new, bespoke work and study route to access family reunion and settlement rights with new fees and conditions in accordance with the rules of that route. This will enable them to earn down their length of time before they can settle in the UK from 20 years.The Government will set out the requirements and timelines in due course.

With reference to her Statement on Asylum Policy of 17 of November, Official Report column 509, what the length of time for settlement for refugees who successfully apply through that route will be.

These details are subject to further policy development which will be set out in due course.

With reference to her Statement on Asylum Policy of 17 of November, Official Report column 509, which means other than sponsorship will be opened up to new, capped, safe and legal routes for asylum seekers.

The UK has rightly played its part alongside other countries in response to crises such as Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan.As set out in the policy statement, in addition to the sponsorship pathways, we are developing new capped safe and legal routes at pace for refugees and displaced people to access the UK for work and study purposes.This approach remains flexible to respond to global crises, as demonstrated by recent extensions to the Ukraine scheme and targeted support for individuals affected by conflicts in Gaza.