Written questions by Downie.

How much was paid in Class (a) 2 and (b) 4 National Insurance contributions in 2023.

The number of people with Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contributions (NICs) liabilities are estimated based on the 2021-22 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s March 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook. This represents an estimate of the number of people with Class 2 and Class 4 NICs liabilities, and does not represent the number of people from whom HMRC received payments in 2023-24. Estimated number of individuals liable (thousands)2023-24Class 2 NICs2,310Class 4 NICs2,280 Information on NICs can be found in the “HMRC tax receipts and National Insurance contributions for the UK” statistical bulletin, available here:HMRC tax receipts and National Insurance contributions for the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The breakdown of National Insurance contributions (NICs) by class for Great Britain and Northern Ireland is provided by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in “National Insurance Fund (NIF) Accounts”, available here (in the Notes to the Account):https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-insurance-fund-accounts The NIF publication compares figures for year ended 31 March 2024 with year ended 31 March 2023. Note that the breakdown in the NIF accounts does not include the NHS allocation, paid over by HMRC to the NHS, though information on this allocation is included in the NIF Accounts.

How many people paid Class (a) 2 and (b) 4 National Insurance contributions in 2023.

The number of people with Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contributions (NICs) liabilities are estimated based on the 2021-22 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s March 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook. This represents an estimate of the number of people with Class 2 and Class 4 NICs liabilities, and does not represent the number of people from whom HMRC received payments in 2023-24. Estimated number of individuals liable (thousands)2023-24Class 2 NICs2,310Class 4 NICs2,280 Information on NICs can be found in the “HMRC tax receipts and National Insurance contributions for the UK” statistical bulletin, available here:HMRC tax receipts and National Insurance contributions for the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The breakdown of National Insurance contributions (NICs) by class for Great Britain and Northern Ireland is provided by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in “National Insurance Fund (NIF) Accounts”, available here (in the Notes to the Account):https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-insurance-fund-accounts The NIF publication compares figures for year ended 31 March 2024 with year ended 31 March 2023. Note that the breakdown in the NIF accounts does not include the NHS allocation, paid over by HMRC to the NHS, though information on this allocation is included in the NIF Accounts.

How much funding he has allocated to the submarine dismantling programme for each of the next five years.

The Department does not release spending profiles for individual programmes. However, I can confirm the latest Whole Life Cost for the Submarine Dismantling Project, as published in the Department’s 2023 Government Major Projects Portfolio data, is £298 million. This figure includes costs associated with dismantling work in Rosyth and maintenance costs for decommissioned submarines in Devonport.

Whether she plans to review the formula used by the Child Maintenance Service to calculate the Flat Rate of child maintenance.

The Child Maintenance Service believes that both parents have a financial responsibility to contribute towards the cost of bringing up their child, regardless of their financial situation.The level of flat rate maintenance for non-resident parents was last reviewed in 2012 as part of the Child Maintenance Calculation Regulations. The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.Non-resident parents receiving benefits (including Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit without earnings) or who have gross weekly income between £7 and £100 are required to pay the flat rate of £7 a week. This rate ensures that parents meet their financial responsibility in paying towards their children's upbringing while protecting the welfare of the paying parent to maximise the likelihood of regular payments being made.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Flat Rate of Child Maintenance awarded by the Child Maintenance Service.

The Child Maintenance Service believes that both parents have a financial responsibility to contribute towards the cost of bringing up their child, regardless of their financial situation.The level of flat rate maintenance for non-resident parents was last reviewed in 2012 as part of the Child Maintenance Calculation Regulations. The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.Non-resident parents receiving benefits (including Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit without earnings) or who have gross weekly income between £7 and £100 are required to pay the flat rate of £7 a week. This rate ensures that parents meet their financial responsibility in paying towards their children's upbringing while protecting the welfare of the paying parent to maximise the likelihood of regular payments being made.

When the formula used by the Child Maintenance Service to calculate the Flat Rate of child maintenance was last reviewed.

The Child Maintenance Service believes that both parents have a financial responsibility to contribute towards the cost of bringing up their child, regardless of their financial situation.The level of flat rate maintenance for non-resident parents was last reviewed in 2012 as part of the Child Maintenance Calculation Regulations. The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.Non-resident parents receiving benefits (including Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit without earnings) or who have gross weekly income between £7 and £100 are required to pay the flat rate of £7 a week. This rate ensures that parents meet their financial responsibility in paying towards their children's upbringing while protecting the welfare of the paying parent to maximise the likelihood of regular payments being made.

What plans she has to ensure the Flat Rate of Child Maintenance reflects changes in the cost of living.

The Child Maintenance Service believes that both parents have a financial responsibility to contribute towards the cost of bringing up their child, regardless of their financial situation.The level of flat rate maintenance for non-resident parents was last reviewed in 2012 as part of the Child Maintenance Calculation Regulations. The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.Non-resident parents receiving benefits (including Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit without earnings) or who have gross weekly income between £7 and £100 are required to pay the flat rate of £7 a week. This rate ensures that parents meet their financial responsibility in paying towards their children's upbringing while protecting the welfare of the paying parent to maximise the likelihood of regular payments being made.

What steps she plans to take to increase awareness of the changes to the hierarchy of road users in Highway Code Rules H1 to 3.

Following a review of the Highway Code in 2022, the Department introduced a hierarchy of road users, which ensures that those who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others.Communications to raise awareness of the changes were launched via a factual awareness raising campaign in 2022. This was followed by broader behaviour change campaigns in the summers of 2022 and 2023, to help embed the changes and encourage understanding and uptake of the guidance. Over £2.4 million has been spent on media across the campaign, utilising channels such as radio, digital audio, video on demand and social media advertising.Campaign outcomes included 86% of road users having heard of the changes by September 2023, and 9 in 10 of those who recognised a campaign advert saying they had taken action as a result.We continue to promote The Highway Code changes on THINK! and Department for Transport social media channels and via our partner organisations. We continually review allocation of communications spend across road safety issues based on the latest insights and evidence.

How many (a) men and (b) women paid Class Four National Insurance contributions in each of the last five years by income decile.

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions. HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn. To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

How many (a) men and (b) women paid class two National Insurance contributions in each of the past five years.

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions. HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn. To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

What income HMRC has derived from (a) class two and (b) class four National Insurance contributions in each of the past five years.

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions. HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn. To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

How many (a) men and (b) women paid Class Four National Insurance contributions in each of the last five years.

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions. HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn. To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

How many (a) class two and (b)) class four National Insurance payees there were in (i) 2019-20, (ii) 2020-21, (iii) 2021-22, (iv) 2022-23 and (v) 2023-24.

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions. HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn. To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

How many (a) men and (b) women paid Class Two National Insurance contributions in each of the last five years in each (i) nation and (ii) region.

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions. HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn. To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

How many (a) men and (b) women paid Class Four National Insurance contributions in each of the last five years in each (i) nation and (ii) region.

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions. HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn. To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

How many (a) men and (b) women paid Class Two National Insurance contributions in each of the last five years by income decile.

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions. HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn. To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

What estimate she has made of the number of (a) class two and (b) class four National Insurance payees in the 2024-25 financial year.

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions. HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn. To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

When the National Security Unit for Procurement plans to publish guidance for contracting authorities.

The National Security Unit for Procurement (NSUP) will support the implementation of new powers to protect public procurement from suppliers that pose a threat to national security. It will become operational on commencement of the Procurement Act on February 24th 2025 and we plan to publish guidance for contracting authorities on the application of the national security exclusion grounds ahead of that date. This is being complemented by more general training and engagement on the act run by the Cabinet Office’s Transforming Public Procurement Programme, and the wider suite of guidance which is already available.

How many quick reaction alert launches there were from RAF (a) Conningsby and (b) RAF Lossiemouth in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

Quick Reaction Alert from either RAF Coningsby or RAF Lossiemouth were launched on six days in 2022 and on nine days in 2023.

How many quick reaction alert launches there have been from RAF (a) Conningsby and (b) Lossiemouth in each month in 2024.

Quick Reaction Alert from either RAF Coningsby or RAF Lossiemouth were launched on the following number of days in each month of 2024 up to the end of November: January0February2March1April0May0June0July0August0September2October1November1