Written questions by Sollom.

How many teaching hours have been missed by persistently absent pupils with SEND in the 2023-24 school year.

Information on pupil absence, including persistent absence and breakdowns by pupil characteristics, is published in the ‘Pupil absence in schools in England’ statistical release. This can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england/2022-23.The most recent data available is for the autumn and spring terms of the 2023/24 academic year. Data for the full 2023/24 academic year will be published in March 2025.Data is collected in sessions as opposed to hours missed. One session is equal to half a day. The number of overall absence sessions for persistent absentees, broken down by special educational need status, can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/dabc07e5-3cb8-48ca-7115-08dd0ae16946.

How many pupils were (a) suspended and (b) permanently excluded from primary schools in England in 2023-24; and what proportion of such pupils were identified as having SEND.

The department publishes figures from the school census on suspensions and permanent exclusions from state-funded schools in England. The most recent full academic year release, for the 2022/23 academic year, is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/suspensions-and-permanent-exclusions-in-england/2022-23.The latest release covers the 2023/24 autumn term and is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/suspensions-and-permanent-exclusions-in-england/2023-24-autumn-term.Published figures include numbers and rates of suspensions and permanent exclusions by school phase and characteristics, including special educational needs provision. A table has been created from the 2022/23 academic year publication here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/f661eaa5-0158-4c2d-710a-08dd0ae16946.Data is not yet available for the whole 2023/24 academic year. Data is collected two terms in arrears to allow time for Independent Review Panels to review exclusion decisions before data is collected.

How many pupils were (a) suspended and (b) permanently excluded from secondary schools in England in 2023-24; and what proportion of those pupils were identified as having SEND.

The department publishes figures from the school census on suspensions and permanent exclusions from state-funded schools in England. The most recent full academic year release, for the 2022/23 academic year, is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/suspensions-and-permanent-exclusions-in-england/2022-23.The latest release covers the 2023/24 autumn term and is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/suspensions-and-permanent-exclusions-in-england/2023-24-autumn-term.Published figures include numbers and rates of suspensions and permanent exclusions by school phase and characteristics, including special educational needs provision. A table has been created from the 2022/23 academic year publication here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/f661eaa5-0158-4c2d-710a-08dd0ae16946.Data is not yet available for the whole 2023/24 academic year. Data is collected two terms in arrears to allow time for Independent Review Panels to review exclusion decisions before data is collected.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of backlogs in court cases on the ability of the Child Maintenance Service to ensure parents receive child maintenance payments on time.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) takes the impact of backlogs very seriously and regularly makes assessments in order to ensure payments are received on time. The Department and HM Courts and Tribunals Service maintain a vitally close working relationship with an aim to ensure Courts have sufficient capacity for referrals made from the CMS and prevent backlogs. For context, the CMS has a wide range of strong enforcement powers designed to get money flowing quickly, prevent the build-up of arrears and get children the financial support they deserve. Where parents consistently fail to pay their maintenance, the CMS may pursue unpaid maintenance through liability orders and sanctions granted by the courts. These include using Enforcement Agents (previously known as bailiffs) to take control of goods, forcing the sale of property, disqualification from driving or commitment to prison. We are committed to making the most effective use of these strong enforcement powers and have made several improvements to our enforcement processes to make it quicker and more efficient.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of having officials from her Department work at the St Neots Citizen Hub (a) on a permanent basis and (b) one day a week, in the context of helping to improve her Department's services in the local area.

Our Service Leader for East Anglia is very happy to explore the potential to deliver job club/job search sessions at St Neots Citizen Hub. Our Partnership Manager for Cambridge, Huntingdon, Ely and Haverhill has already established a relationship with the Citizens Hub in St Neots having attended an event on 21st November. There is an additional meeting planned in December to investigate how the Jobcentre and Citizens Hub can work closely together, including having Jobcentre colleagues within the Hub.

What progress he has made on ensuring that children and young people in every community have access to drop in mental health support.

The Government is committed to improving mental health support for children and young people. Our commitment to roll out a network of Young Futures Hubs in every community to provide open access mental health support is proof of this.We are currently working across Government to consider options in order to deliver Young Futures Hubs. The hubs will bring together services, including mental health support, to improve how young people access opportunities and support at the community level.

Whether he plans to extend the extra funding awarded to early support hubs after March 2025.

My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer presented the Autumn Budget to Parliament on 30 October 2024. As a Department, we are finalising the outcomes of the Budget. We will set out plans for mental health funding for 2025/26 in due course. We remain committed to improving mental health support for children and young people, with our commitment to roll out a network of Young Futures Hubs to provide open access mental health support as proof of this.

If he will take steps to ensure that information on the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Summary gov.uk webpage remains (a) readily available, (b) accessible to the public and (c) up to date.

The Government is committed to ensuring there is regular communication with the public on infected blood. We will ensure that the gov.uk pages are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure the information remains up to date and correct. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) also sends out a regular newsletter to those interested in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme and also has a helpline available for the community to contact.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Infected Blood Compensation Scheme overview: Living infected persons, published on 23 August 2024, when he plans to publish further evidence requirements for people infected with Hepatitis C after 1991.

Under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, there are two ways for a directly infected individual to show eligibility, depending on the date of infection. For those infected during the specified date ranges, they only need to show that they received infected blood treatment during the date ranges and were subsequently diagnosed with a relevant infection. Those whose infection fell outside of the specified date ranges (which includes those who were infected with Hepatitis C after 1991) must also satisfy the Infected Blood Compensation Authority that the infected blood treatment caused the person to become infected with that infection. This is the higher evidence requirement referred to in the summary document published in August 2024, as set out in Regulation 7 of The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2024. It is intended that the Authority’s approach to applications will be to be as proactive and sympathetic as possible, and consistent with appropriate and proportionate safeguarding of the integrity of the scheme.

If he will ensure that Infected Blood compensation payments to the estates of deceased infected people are the same as those for living infected people.

The compensation amounts available to people who are infected and affected differ depending on their circumstances. As recommended by the Inquiry, the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme has been designed as a tariff-based framework. The proposed tariffs have been developed on the advice of the Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group, which included clinical and legal advisors assisted by social care specialists. The tariff for infected people will be based on the severity of their infection or infections. The proposed tariffs for affected people will similarly be based on the severity banding in relation to their loved one who was infected. The tariff-based approach means that the Scheme will award compensation that reflects personal circumstances while making payments quickly.

Whether Infected Blood compensation payments to affected (a) siblings, (b) children and (c) parents of deceased infected people will be given the same priority as those to living infected people.

Following feedback from the infected blood community, the previous administration committed to prioritising making payments to people living with infections as a result of contaminated blood or blood products first. This Government has upheld this commitment and we expect the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to begin making payments to people who are infected under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme by the end of this year. Payments to the affected are expected to begin in 2025, following a second set of regulations.

If he will ensure that affected (a) siblings, (b) children and (c) parents of deceased infected people receive the same Infected Blood compensation payments as affected partners of deceased people.

The compensation amounts available to people who are infected and affected differ depending on their circumstances. As recommended by the Inquiry, the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme has been designed as a tariff-based framework. The proposed tariffs have been developed on the advice of the Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group, which included clinical and legal advisors assisted by social care specialists. The tariff for infected people will be based on the severity of their infection or infections. The proposed tariffs for affected people will similarly be based on the severity banding in relation to their loved one who was infected. The tariff-based approach means that the Scheme will award compensation that reflects personal circumstances while making payments quickly.

How many people were detained in health-based places of safety under the Mental Health Act 1983 in each year between 2017 and 2023; and what section of that Act they were held under.

The Home Office annually collects and publishes data on detentions under section 136 and section 135 of the Mental Health Act 1983 as part of the Police Powers and Procedures publication series.The most recent data can be found in the Detentions under the Mental Health Act data tables which can be downloaded from here: Stop and search, arrests and mental health detentions, March 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The information provided includes the type of place of safety the person was taken to.Data for detentions under section 136, for the years ending March 2017 to the year ending March 2024, is available in table MHA.08.Data for detentions under section 135, for the year ending March 2024, is available in table MHA.105a. Data for previous years is not available.The data provided covers only detentions carried out by the police and does not include people taken to a health-based place of safety by other agencies.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of exempting VAT charges for universities that undertake shared services as a cross-sharing group.

Universities can already benefit from exempting VAT charges for shared services within a cost sharing group providing certain conditions are met. This enables them to make efficiency savings by working together and sharing qualifying costs without incurring additional irrecoverable VAT.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of Secure English Language Test on (a) international students, (b) research students and (c) skilled workers.

Secure English Language testing is already in place via commercial arrangements that underpin the policy requirements. The commercial arrangements, and those being considered for the future, will not negatively impact our customers but continue to support the visa application process. As part of both our business-as-usual management of services and any future arrangements, global test centre coverage is a key consideration and we will continue to ensure that test centres have good availability for our customers.

What steps she is taking to ensure that all parents receive the correct amount of child maintenance payment on time.

A principle of child maintenance is to increase levels of cooperation between separated parents and encourage parents to meet their responsibilities to provide their children with financial support. Where a family-based child maintenance arrangement is not suitable the Child Maintenance Service offers a statutory scheme, Direct Pay and Collect and Pay, for those parents who need it. To ensure Child Maintenance calculations are accurate the department uses proportionate and cost-effective controls, such as:use of verified income from HMRC and benefit systems as outlined in legislation and a principal part of service design.use of child benefit systems to verify qualifying child(ren)procedures and policy to request additional verificationa dedicated Financial Investigation Unit who addresses allegations of misrepresentation and frauda robust mandatory reconsideration (MR) and appeals processa robust 3 Tier Quality Framework. The Government is dedicated to ensuring parents meet their financial obligations to children and the Child Maintenance Service will do everything within its powers to make sure parents comply. Where parents fail to pay their child maintenance, the Service will not hesitate to use its enforcement powers, including deductions from earnings orders, removal of driving licences, disqualification from holding a passport, and committal to prison. The Service is committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families. The Department publishes quarterly statistics for the Child Maintenance Service. Please refer to tables 4, 5, 6.1 and 6.2 of the National Tables for data on child maintenance arrangements and collection. national-tables-child-maintenance-service-to-june-2024.ods

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the Child Maintenance Service more accessible to parents.

The aim of the Child Maintenance Service is to create a modern accessible service through our digital transformation and Service Modernisation programmes, to allow our customers to have greater choice of how and when they contact us. Through our digital transformation programme, almost all applications are now made online, and we have more than doubled My Child Maintenance Case (MCMC) registrations. 1.46 million customers now have access to our service 24/7 through their online accounts, with over 1.12 million logins in September 2024. Every change and improvement made to our processes, systems, and service are all part of modernising our service. This will be an ongoing process of continuous improvement to make Child Maintenance Service more accessible to all parents. As part of the Government’s reforms to the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act receiving Royal Assent on 29 June 2023, the Child Maintenance Service removed the £20 application to ensure families on the lowest incomes do not face a barrier to accessing the service. The Government consultation on remaining reforms has concluded. We are in the process of finalising the details of the consultation and aim to publish it as soon as possible on gov.uk.

What data her Department holds on the number of parents who did not receive their child maintenance payments on time in the last 12 months.

The Child Maintenance Service does not hold data on the timeliness of payments; however, we do hold data on the number of Child Maintenance arrangements on the statutory scheme and the collection of maintenance. The Department publishes the quarterly statistics for the Child Maintenance Service. Please refer to tables 4 and 5 of the National Tables for data on child maintenance arrangements and collection: national-tables-child-maintenance-service-to-june-2024.ods The Department is dedicated to ensuring parents meet their financial obligations to children and the Child Maintenance Service will do everything within its powers to make sure parents comply.

What steps she is taking to ensure academy trusts are subject to local accountability by parents and communities in instances where school policies and complaints procedures fail to resolve concerns.

Academies are required to have a complaints procedure in place that adheres to Part 7 of the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014. Where parents or carers have concerns, they should first approach the academy, and it is their responsibility to handle and resolve complaints. If a complainant has concerns that an academy did not handle a complaint in line with the regulations, they can then escalate to the department, whose role it is to consider whether the academy followed the correct process.For members of the wider community who do not have a child at the academy, the regulations do not apply. However, the department still expects academies to handle complaints swiftly and respectfully.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education holds academies to a high level of accountability through their funding agreement. Where wider concerns are raised, for example, as a result of poor governance or lack of compliance with the framework, the department will intervene proportionately to ensure compliance.As part of the King’s Speech, we have committed to legislate to require all schools, including academies, to cooperate with the local authority on school admissions and place planning, and to give local authorities greater powers to deliver their function and ensure that admissions decisions account for the needs of the community.

Whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the performance of the Child Maintenance Service since the reforms announced in February 2024.

On the 26 February 2024, regulations came into place to remove the £20 Child Maintenance Service application fee as part of the Government’s response to help with the cost-of-living increase.This has resulted in an increase in applications in the quarter to March and June 2024. In the quarter ending June 2024 there were 39,000 new applications, an increase of 6,400 applications compared with the quarter to June 2023.The Department publishes quarterly statistics for the Child Maintenance Service. Please refer to table 1 and 2 of the national tables for data on applications and intake national-tables-child-maintenance-service-to-june-2024.ods Additionally, the DWP was given the legal power to write off low level debt under £7.00 (£6.99 and less), where a Direct Pay and Collect and Pay case has closed, there is no ongoing liability, and no payment has been received in the previous 90 days.Since the reform was introduced, the DWP has written off low level debt which was not cost effective for the service to chase. Therefore, this has protected the cost to the public.The DWP is still committed to gathering debt and has recently consulted on new measures to improve enforcement. The results of this consultation will be published in due course.