Written questions by Maguire.

Whether guidance exists on the circumstances in which individuals identified in official Statutory Inquiries concerning safeguarding failures should be referred for criminal investigation.

Public inquiries operate independently of criminal proceedings.Findings of an inquiry do not constitute criminal findings, but they can inform subsequent police investigations.Inquiries have processes whereby information indicating potential criminal conduct can be shared directly with the police or other relevant authorities, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

What assessment her Department has made on the potential merits of ensuring referral to relevant authorities when evidence from a Statutory Inquiry suggests criminality.

Public inquiries operate independently of criminal proceedings.Findings of an inquiry do not constitute criminal findings, but they can inform subsequent police investigations.Inquiries have processes whereby information indicating potential criminal conduct can be shared directly with the police or other relevant authorities, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

What assessment she has made of whether current frameworks provide sufficient clarity on the referral of evidence from public inquiries to prosecuting authorities.

Public inquiries operate independently of criminal proceedings.Findings of an inquiry do not constitute criminal findings, but they can inform subsequent police investigations.Inquiries have processes whereby information indicating potential criminal conduct can be shared directly with the police or other relevant authorities, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of speeding in Surrey on residents.

The Department for Transport has not made a specific assessment of the impact of speeding in Surrey on residents. Responsibility for assessing local road safety issues, including the impact of speeding, sits primarily with local authorities and police forces, who are best placed to understand local conditions, concerns and collision data.

What steps her Department is taking to make it easier for current and former start-up employees to realise the value of their equity, including through secondary share sales.

The Government has taken significant steps to allow more employees to acquire shares in their employer's company. At Autumn Budget 2025, the Government announced a major expansion of the Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) scheme eligibility limits, which is expected to support around 1,800 high-growth scale-up companies and allow them to reward an estimated 70,000 employees with tax-advantaged share options. In May 2025, the government legislated to establish PISCES, making private secondary markets more transparent and efficient, enabling employees, founders and early-stage investors to realise and reinvest their gains. The Government also legislated in the 2026 Finance Bill to allow employers, with employee consent, to amend existing EMI and CSOP contracts to allow employees to exercise their share options on PISCES platforms while retaining the tax advantages of EMI and CSOP.

What steps her Department is taking to increase road safety.

The Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and this strategy reflects that. It considers action needed by government, local authorities, industry, emergency services and communities to tackle the causes of collisions and save lives. By investing in infrastructure, education, and enforcement, we are taking decisive steps to make our roads safer for everyone.

If she will make explicit protections for current visa-holders, those mid-application, and those with existing university offers for students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.

We value the contribution of the higher education sector and continue to engage regularly with representatives, including Universities UK and the Russell Group, on the challenges the system faces. The visa brake is a temporary, evidence‑led measure and will be lifted only when the Government judges it appropriate to do so.The brake does not apply to those who already hold a valid Student visa, nor to applications submitted before it came into force on 26 March. In order to allow those prospective students with an offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) to apply for visas, we provided 21 days’ notice of the implementation of the visa brakes. There are no plans for any further exceptions to the brake.The decision to introduce the visa brakes was driven by clear evidence of high levels of visa‑linked asylum claims across all four nationalities. In the case of Sudan, in the year ending September 2025, the proportion of asylum claims to visas issued on the student route was 46%, constituting one of the highest visa-linked asylum conversion rates, consistent with a rise across the past five years. This continued and rising asylum risk from this cohort necessitated swift and decisive action through the introduction of a visa brake.

What conversations her Department has had with Universities UK and the Russell Group in regard to the suspension of student visas from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.

We value the contribution of the higher education sector and continue to engage regularly with representatives, including Universities UK and the Russell Group, on the challenges the system faces. The visa brake is a temporary, evidence‑led measure and will be lifted only when the Government judges it appropriate to do so.The brake does not apply to those who already hold a valid Student visa, nor to applications submitted before it came into force on 26 March. In order to allow those prospective students with an offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) to apply for visas, we provided 21 days’ notice of the implementation of the visa brakes. There are no plans for any further exceptions to the brake.The decision to introduce the visa brakes was driven by clear evidence of high levels of visa‑linked asylum claims across all four nationalities. In the case of Sudan, in the year ending September 2025, the proportion of asylum claims to visas issued on the student route was 46%, constituting one of the highest visa-linked asylum conversion rates, consistent with a rise across the past five years. This continued and rising asylum risk from this cohort necessitated swift and decisive action through the introduction of a visa brake.

What support her Department is giving to local authorities to tackle speeding.

Local authorities are responsible for decisions on the roads they manage, including setting local speed limits and introducing traffic‑calming measures, based on local conditions. The Government supports this through national guidance to ensure limits are consistent and appropriate. The Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026 committed to update current guidance on local speed limits and speed‑camera use. Local authorities receive direct and indirect funding that can be used to address speeding: Local Transport Plan and Highway Maintenance funding from the Department for Transport which can support speed‑management measures such as traffic calming, safer road layouts, signage and speed‑limit schemes.

What assessment her Department has made, in regards to Sudanese student visas, of the potential merits of implementing targeted enforcement based on individual risk assessment rather than a blanket nationality-based suspension.

We value the contribution of the higher education sector and continue to engage regularly with representatives, including Universities UK and the Russell Group, on the challenges the system faces. The visa brake is a temporary, evidence‑led measure and will be lifted only when the Government judges it appropriate to do so.The brake does not apply to those who already hold a valid Student visa, nor to applications submitted before it came into force on 26 March. In order to allow those prospective students with an offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) to apply for visas, we provided 21 days’ notice of the implementation of the visa brakes. There are no plans for any further exceptions to the brake.The decision to introduce the visa brakes was driven by clear evidence of high levels of visa‑linked asylum claims across all four nationalities. In the case of Sudan, in the year ending September 2025, the proportion of asylum claims to visas issued on the student route was 46%, constituting one of the highest visa-linked asylum conversion rates, consistent with a rise across the past five years. This continued and rising asylum risk from this cohort necessitated swift and decisive action through the introduction of a visa brake.

What steps he is taking to improve working conditions including pay for those in the mental health sector.

We are committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals, including those working in the mental health sector. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out how we will deliver this change by making sure that staff are better treated, have more fulfilling roles, and hope for the future.We are taking a number of steps to improve working conditions for NHS staff including the development of a new set of staff standards for modern employment. The standards will focus on the areas that we know matter the most to staff, including: supporting line management; improving staff health and wellbeing; promoting flexible working; violence prevention and reduction; and tackling racism and sexual safety.On 5 February we received the NHS Pay Review Body report and on 12 February we accepted their independent recommendation for a 3.3% consolidated headline pay award for 2026/27. For the first time in six years, this pay increase for NHS Agenda for Change staff will be in April pay packets, demonstrating our commitment to getting money to NHS staff earlier than in previous years. Additionally, on 17 March, we received the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration’s report and on 20 March accepted their independent recommendations for a headline pay increase of 3.5% for doctors and 3.75% increase to the pay element of high-street dental contracts and community dental service dentists.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on research for astronomy and space science of the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s proposed funding cuts of up to 60%.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UKRI.The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is maintaining its budget across this period and is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.The UK will also continue to invest in collaborative space science through the UK Space Agency, which has been allocated £2.8 billion over the next 4 years.DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful consultation with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with the Science and Technology Facilities Council regarding their proposed funding cuts for astronomy and space science.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UKRI.The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is maintaining its budget across this period and is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.The UK will also continue to invest in collaborative space science through the UK Space Agency, which has been allocated £2.8 billion over the next 4 years.DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful consultation with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support research into astronomy and space science.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next 4 years. This includes £38.6 billion allocated to UKRI.The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is maintaining its budget across this period and is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.The UK will also continue to invest in collaborative space science through the UK Space Agency, which has been allocated £2.8 billion over the next 4 years.DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful consultation with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact that restrictions on secondary sales of private company shares have on economic growth and new business creation.

Section 771 of the Companies Act 2006 requires companies to register a share transfer or provide reasons to the transferee for not doing so. Private companies’ articles of association, which must be approved by shareholders, may include provisions covering the secondary sale of shares. Such provisions may seek to balance the alignment of employee interests with the company’s long-term prospects while also considering the impact any restrictions have on employee share liquidity. In May 2025, the Government legislated to establish PISCES (Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System), the legal framework for a new type of stock exchange for private companies. PISCES makes private secondary markets more transparent and efficient, enabling employees, founders and early-stage investors to realise and reinvest their gains.

What assessment his Department has made of regulatory or legislative measures to prevent private companies from unreasonably blocking the transfer of vested shares held by former employees.

Section 771 of the Companies Act 2006 requires companies to register a share transfer or provide reasons to the transferee for not doing so. Private companies’ articles of association, which must be approved by shareholders, may include provisions covering the secondary sale of shares. Such provisions may seek to balance the alignment of employee interests with the company’s long-term prospects while also considering the impact any restrictions have on employee share liquidity. In May 2025, the Government legislated to establish PISCES (Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System), the legal framework for a new type of stock exchange for private companies. PISCES makes private secondary markets more transparent and efficient, enabling employees, founders and early-stage investors to realise and reinvest their gains.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the overseas scale rates for employees travelling outside the UK and cost of living pressures.

Where employers reimburse allowable travel expenses, tax relief is available provided the expenses are wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred for work purposes. Ordinarily, employers must hold evidence of the employee’s actual expenditure. However, to reduce administrative burdens on employers, HMRC allows expenses for travel outside the UK to be reimbursed without evidence up to the levels contained within the Overseas Scale Rates. Where the Overseas Scale rates do not cover the expense incurred by employees, employers can still reimburse and provide tax relief provided they have appropriate evidence. The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy‑making process.

Whether decisions on mandatory and additional General Ophthalmic Services contract fees are subject to an Equality Impact Assessment.

Decisions on mandatory and additional General Ophthalmic Services contract fees are informed by an Equality Impact Assessment, in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty.

What steps his Department is taking to develop national guidelines for PICA.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Mid Dunbartonshire on 9 February 2026 to Question 110183.

If she will conduct a review of overseas scale rates for employees travelling outside the UK.

Where employers reimburse allowable travel expenses, tax relief is available provided the expenses are wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred for work purposes. Ordinarily, employers must hold evidence of the employee’s actual expenditure. However, to reduce administrative burdens on employers, HMRC allows expenses for travel outside the UK to be reimbursed without evidence up to the levels contained within the Overseas Scale Rates. Where the Overseas Scale rates do not cover the expense incurred by employees, employers can still reimburse and provide tax relief provided they have appropriate evidence. The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy‑making process.