Written questions by Morris.

How many children have been held at the Oasis Restore secure school at Medway in each month since it opened.

The number of children at the secure school at the end of each month, to the end of July 2025, is shown in the table below. The average age was 16. Aug 2024Sep 2024Oct 2024Nov 2024Dec 2024Jan 2025Feb 2025Mar 2025Apr 2025May 2025Jun 2025Jul 2025Number of children[x](1)911813171515881010(1) The symbol [x] indicates that the total is five or fewer. Where this is the case, an exact figure is not provided, in order to avoid the risk of identifying individuals.

What the total cost has been of repairs to the infrastructure at the Oasis Restore secure school due to vandalism since it opened.

To obtain the requested information, it would be necessary to undertake a detailed examination of all records relating to expenditure on repairs, in order to identify the element attributable to vandalism, and this could not be done without incurring disproportionate cost.

How many weapons have been found at the Oasis Restore secure school at Medway since it opened.

The latest published statistics for assaults relate to the period up to 31 March 2025. During that period, there were 31 assaults on staff and 10 child-on-child assaults. The total number reported to the police was five or fewer: it is not possible to provide an exact figure, as that would risk identifying individuals.In the period up to 28 August 2025, 32 weapons were found.

If she will make it her policy to investigate the conduct of Kroll Advisory Ltd in its role as administrator of Prosperous Life; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that affected consumers are protected.

All insolvency practitioners (IPs), including those at Kroll Advisory Ltd, are authorised and regulated by recognised professional bodies, which operate under the Secretary of State’s oversight. Matters of concern about IP conduct are the responsibility of those bodies, in line with their published rules and procedures.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Strategic Defence Review on the (a) budget and (b) headcount of the (i) UK Hydrographic Office and (ii) National Shipbuilding Office.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence and make the UK stronger both at home and abroad. The Government endorses the Review's vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The potential impact of the SDR on the budget and headcount of the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is that, as an arm's length body and trading fund, the SDR has no significant impact on existing UKHO budget and headcount that have not been accounted for within the corporate planning process.The potential impact of the SDR on the budget and headcount of the National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) is yet to be determined. The NSO continues to be this Government's driver for shipbuilding activity both on Government shipbuilding programmes and across the commercial and civil sector. We will be in a better position to understand this once work on the Defence Investment Plan completes later this year.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the transfer of Stirling Castle from the Royal Fleet Auxillary to the Royal Navy on the operational capacity of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

The transfer of Stirling Castle from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) to the Royal Navy allows the RFA to direct its resources to crew and maintain other vessels in its inventory, optimising readiness to support Defence’s outputs.

What the (a) cost and (b) duration are for the contract between his Department and Serco Marine Services for the support vessels (i) SD Victoria and (ii) SD Northern River.

SD Victoria and SD Northern River currently operate under the Serco Continued Procurement of Marine Services contract which expires on 30 September 2025. From 1 October 2025, the two vessels will operate the under the Serco Defence Marine Service Offshore to Military Training Contract. This contract was awarded on the 14 May 2025 following a competitive procurement process. The Contract has a duration of 10 years and a cost of £94 million.The Ministry of Defence has no live maritime service contracts with subsidiaries of Serco.

If he will list all live maritime service contracts his Department has with subsidiaries of Serco Limited.

SD Victoria and SD Northern River currently operate under the Serco Continued Procurement of Marine Services contract which expires on 30 September 2025. From 1 October 2025, the two vessels will operate the under the Serco Defence Marine Service Offshore to Military Training Contract. This contract was awarded on the 14 May 2025 following a competitive procurement process. The Contract has a duration of 10 years and a cost of £94 million.The Ministry of Defence has no live maritime service contracts with subsidiaries of Serco.

If she will hold discussions with the (a) National Council for the Training of Journalists and (b) National Union of Journalists on the Strategic Priorities Grant funding changes for journalism education.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Easington to the answer of 16 July 2025 to Question 63373.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to high-cost subject funding on student access to (a) journalism and (b) publishing courses.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Easington to the answer of 16 July 2025 to Question 63373.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Strategic Priorities Grant funding changes on long-term skills provision in (a) journalism and (b) publishing.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Easington to the answer of 16 July 2025 to Question 63373.

How much funding will be reprioritised away from (a) journalism, (b) media studies, (c) publishing and (d) information services courses in the most recent Strategic Priorities Grant; and to which subject areas that funding has been reallocated.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Easington to the answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 67279.

How much funding has been allocated through the Strategic Priorities Grant to (a) journalism, (b) media studies, (c) publishing and (d) information services courses in each of the last three years.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Easington to the answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 67279.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, what guidance was given to her Department by (a) HM Treasury and (b) other Departments on the application of New Fair Deal to prison educators transferring from further education colleges to the private sector as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts.

The Department followed guidance from His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT), at the time of tender publication, and included all the relevant details to bidders on the application of the New Fair Deal (NFD) in the Invitation to Tender documentation.Further information can be found using the following links: Prisoner Education Services Panel (Inc. Core Education) - Find a Tender (find-tender.service.gov.uk) and Procurement for the Provision of Prisoner Education Services (Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG)) - Find a Tender.Once HMT policy on pensions was announced on 14 November 2024, all contracts were awarded to suppliers to include the application of NFD to transferring educators.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether her Department has made any assurances to private-sector providers of prison education in the event that applications to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts are unsuccessful.

The Department has not made any such assurances to private-sector providers of prison education. Instead, as the scheme employer, the Department works collaboratively with suppliers to assist in the completion of their Admissions Agreement(s) to the appropriate pension fund. Furthermore, the Department provides a scheme guarantee from the Secretary of State in the Admissions Agreement.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether prison educators who transfer from further education colleges to the private sector as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts will have access to (a) the Local Government Pension Scheme and (b) the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

I can confirm that staff transferring from further education colleges to the private sector will have access to (a) the Local Government Pension Scheme and (b) the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243 on Prisons: Education, what guidance her Department has provided to private-sector providers of prison education on establishing contingency plans in the event that the admitting process to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts is not complete before the effective date of transfer of staff.

The Department works with the supplier to ensure migration plans and post migration plans have a confirmed process for maintaining the pension status until the supplier is fully admitted.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether New Fair Deal will apply to prison educators transferring from further education colleges to the private sector as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts.

I can confirm that the New Fair Deal will apply. The Department will honour the Government pension policy set by His Majesty’s Treasury.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether her Department will underwrite New Fair Deal for staff transferring from further education colleges to the private sector in the event that the admitting process to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts is not complete before the effective date of transfer of staff.

The application process is managed by the supplier and so no such assurance can be provided by the Department. As the scheme employer, the Department works proactively with suppliers supporting early applications being made to obtain admitted body status and to provide a scheme guarantee from the relevant Secretary of State in the Admissions Agreement expediently.The Department also works with the supplier to ensure migration plans and post migration plans have a confirmed process for maintaining the pension status until the individuals are fully admitted.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34243, Prisons: Education, whether her Department has made any assurances to private-sector providers of prison education as to whether the admitting process to relevant public-sector pension schemes to seek admitted body status as a result of new Prison Education Service contracts will be complete before the effective date of transfer of staff.

The application process is managed by the supplier and so no such assurance can be provided by the Department. As the scheme employer, the Department works proactively with suppliers supporting early applications being made to obtain admitted body status and to provide a scheme guarantee from the relevant Secretary of State in the Admissions Agreement expediently.