Written questions by Stainbank.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the Online Safety Act on people accessing health and sobriety apps.

The Online Safety Act requires user-to-user and search services to take proportionate steps to tackle illegal content – and protect children from harmful content – on their services. The Act does not prevent adults from seeking out legal content including health content, and it is not about specific applications.The regulator Ofcom will instead look at the systems and processes that in-scope services have in place for tackling illegal content and protecting children. There are also protections against the ‘over removal’ of content, where platforms take down content they should leave on their sites.

How many inquests following deaths at work are in progress in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland.

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for coroner law and policy in England and Wales but does not collate real-time data on inquests in progress across the jurisdiction. Annual Coroner Statistics for England and Wales are published at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coroners-statistics-2024. These include information on inquests opened and completed, but this is not broken down by setting. The Ministry of Justice is not responsible for the coroner jurisdiction in Northern Ireland, which is instead overseen by the Northern Ireland Executive’s Department for Justice.

What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on issuing a Scotland Act Order to permit the bringing into force of relevant sections of the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024.

Scotland Act Orders are pieces of secondary legislation made under the Scotland Act 1998 and are used to implement, update or adjust Scotland’s devolution settlement. A Section 104 order is used to make provision which is considered necessary in consequence of any provision made by or under an Act of the Scottish Parliament.My officials are working with Scottish Government officials to determine the scope of the request for a Scotland Act Order made in consequence of the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a ban on employer deductions for tipped workers.

The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 ensures all tips, gratuities and service charges must be passed on to staff in full – except for permitted deductions like tax.It is estimated this ban on employer deductions ensures workers receive around £200 million worth of tips each year that was previously retained by employers. A statutory code of practice was published to support employers on fair and transparent distribution of tips and ensure the requirements are followed.This Government will go further, making it mandatory for employers to consult with workers at their place of business when developing their tipping policies.

Whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in the Scottish government on the potential impact of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 on the bus manufacturing industry.

The Subsidy Control Act 2022 enables public authorities to deliver targeted and timely interventions to address local needs and drive economic growth while minimising harm to competition within the UK. It also implements the UK’s international commitments, including those in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and World Trade Organization rules. The UK and Scottish Governments established a joint taskforce in June to consider the situation at Alexander Dennis, and ministers from both Governments have been in correspondence on the matter since then. The Scottish Government recently announced it would provide additional subsidy to Alexander Dennis for a furlough scheme.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of allowing Band 3 vaccinators to continue in vaccination roles after April 2026.

In December 2020, amendments were made to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to provide a mechanism that enabled an expanded workforce to legally and safely administer COVID-19 and influenza vaccines without the input of a prescriber, using an approved protocol. This temporary amendment is due to lapse on 1 April 2026.Recognising the important role the expanded vaccinator workforce has played in safely and effectively delivering COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, the Department is proposing to establish a new permanent provision to support the continued use of an extended workforce to supply and administer vaccinations from 1 April 2026. These proposals are subject to public consultation, which went live on 5 September 2025 and closes on 28 November 2025. The consultation is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/amend-regulations-to-support-the-supply-and-deployment-of-vaccines

Whether she plans to mandate a National Activities Safeguarding Framework for Children and Vulnerable Adults participating in extracurricular activities.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.There are existing frameworks and legal powers in place to safeguard children participating in extracurricular activities.The Children Act 1989 places legal obligations on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in their areas and protect them from harm. There are also similar safeguarding responsibilities placed on local authorities regarding vulnerable adults under the Care Act 2014. Where concerns arise, the department expects their services to intervene using the wide range of powers available to them.The department’s statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ also makes clear that child protection arrangements apply where extracurricular activities are provided by a school or college’s governing body, under their direct supervision or management. Where this is not the case, safeguarding requirements should be included in any lease or hire agreement for the premises.Providers of extracurricular activities also have a legal duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children attending their settings and protect them from harm. To support them, the department has published safeguarding guidance and free-to-access e-learning.However, we are actively considering how to further enhance safety in this sector, and as part of our recent call for evidence, which closed on 21 September, we sought views on proposals to strengthen safeguarding in out-of-school settings.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Health and Social Care and (b) Work and Pensions on the (i) proposed increase in standard qualifying period for permanent residence and (ii) impact of that increase on workforce planning for their Departments.

The reforms in the Immigration White Paper, including the proposed increase in the standard qualifying period for settlement, were agreed across Government at a Home and Economic Affairs Committee the previous Home Secretary attended prior to publication on 12 May 2025. We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year. All will be welcome to participate. We will provide details of how the scheme will work after that consultation.

What engagement she has had with the Further Education sector in Scotland on the proposals in the Immigration White Paper to increase the standard qualifying period for permanent residence from five to ten years.

The reforms in the Immigration White Paper, including the proposed increase in the standard qualifying period for settlement, were agreed across Government at a Home and Economic Affairs Committee the previous Home Secretary attended prior to publication on 12 May 2025. We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year. All will be welcome to participate. We will provide details of how the scheme will work after that consultation.

How many people have received indefinite leave to remain in 2025.

The Home Office publishes statistics relating to indefinite leave to remain in the Immigration system statistics publication. The latest data is available up to the end of June 2025.Data on grants of settlement can be found in table Se_D02 of the Settlement data tables. A settlement grant provides individuals with indefinite leave to remain in the UK.Data on EUSS grants are available in table EUSS_D02 of the EUSS data tables. Settled status is an indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK, granted under the EUSS, which is available to EU, other EEA, and Swiss citizens who were residing in the UK that was launched in August 2018.Additionally, data on family visa grants, included those granted immediate settlement are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the detailed entry clearance visas dataset. You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if you have a family member settled in the UK - either as a British citizen or a person with indefinite leave to remain.Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.

What steps her Department is taking to support (a) local authorities and (b) police forces to manage tensions around asylum seeker housing.

The Home Office works closely with police, security teams, local authorities and other partners to ensure all accommodation sites are managed safely and securely. These key stakeholders regularly attend Multi-Agency Forums to provide updates and address any concerns raised within local communities.

What steps her Department is taking to improve support for bereaved families during Fatal Accident Inquests.

Where an investigation into a death requires a public hearing, this takes the form of an inquest in England and Wales or in Northern Ireland, and a Fatal Accident Inquiry in Scotland.Responsibility for the death investigation process in Scotland, including any requirement for a Fatal Accident Inquiry in an individual case, lies with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

How many Fatal Accident Inquests are in progress.

Where an investigation into a death requires a public hearing, this takes the form of an inquest in England and Wales or in Northern Ireland, and a Fatal Accident Inquiry in Scotland.Responsibility for the death investigation process in Scotland, including any requirement for a Fatal Accident Inquiry in an individual case, lies with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken to commence Fatal Accident Inquests.

Where an investigation into a death requires a public hearing, this takes the form of an inquest in England and Wales or in Northern Ireland, and a Fatal Accident Inquiry in Scotland.Responsibility for the death investigation process in Scotland, including any requirement for a Fatal Accident Inquiry in an individual case, lies with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of resources allocated to Coroners' Courts for Fatal Accident Inquests.

Where an investigation into a death requires a public hearing, this takes the form of an inquest in England and Wales or in Northern Ireland, and a Fatal Accident Inquiry in Scotland.Responsibility for the death investigation process in Scotland, including any requirement for a Fatal Accident Inquiry in an individual case, lies with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

What the average length of time is for the conclusion of a Fatal Accident Inquest.

Where an investigation into a death requires a public hearing, this takes the form of an inquest in England and Wales or in Northern Ireland, and a Fatal Accident Inquiry in Scotland.Responsibility for the death investigation process in Scotland, including any requirement for a Fatal Accident Inquiry in an individual case, lies with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes by technology companies to data protection features available in their products on consumers; and what steps he is taking to protect consumers’ data privacy.

The UK’s data protection legislation applies to technology companies providing services to people in the UK, if they are processing personal data. The legislation sets out general rules on how such data should be processed and safeguarded. This includes ensuring that any processing is lawful, fair and transparent. Organisations must also carry out a data protection impact assessment, when processing activities involving new technologies that are likely to result in a high risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms. The legislation is independently regulated by the Information Commissioner's Office. We recently strengthened their powers in the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 to help them investigate suspected breaches of the legislation.

Whether she has had recent discussions with her counterpart in the Scottish government on the potential long-term impact of changes to PIP eligibility on (a) people in Scotland who are in receipt of Adult Disability Payment and (b) the interaction between reserved and devolved systems.

The government has launched a comprehensive review of the PIP assessment, to ensure it is fair and fit for the future. I shall lead the review, and it will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, so a wide range of views and voices are heard. We are committed to working closely with the devolved governments throughout the Timms review. In the course of my stakeholder engagement, I have spoken to disability stakeholders from Scotland, to draw on devolved government perspectives in designing the work of the review. We will continue to engage disability stakeholders from across the UK throughout the review.

Whether existing claimants of the Universal Credit health element will be considered as new claimants upon (a) periodic reassessment and (b) subsequent (i) appeal and (ii) reapplication.

Existing claimants of the Universal Credit (UC) health element will not be considered new claimants if they are reassessed and are still found to have Limited Capability for Work and Work-related Activity (LCWRA). Existing claimants who are not found to have LCWRA at reassessment but successfully appeal this decision would still be eligible for the higher rate. If a claimant is found not to have LCWRA and then reapplies at a later date, they will be considered a new claimant. From 6 April 2026, new UC Health claimants will receive the lower rate unless they meet the Severe Conditions Criteria or qualify under Special Rules for End of Life.

Whether people in Scotland who transition from Employment Support Allowance to Universal Credit will be (a) considered as new claimants and (b) subject to the new rules under the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Bill when determining their eligibility for the Universal Credit health element.

We are rebalancing Universal Credit (UC) to fix a system which encourages people to claim health benefits and incentivises inactivity. It’s a targeted reform that protects those with the most serious, long-term conditions and existing claimants, while providing work, health and skills support to everyone who is affected by changes to LCWRA. Both Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and UC are entirely reserved so are assessed in the same way across England, Scotland and Wales. Customers who move to UC from ESA, with no gap between those awards, will not be treated as a new claimant.