Written questions by McMurdock.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, whether Government by app will store all data together for digital IDs.

The Government is committed to the principle of data minimisation, ensuring the new digital ID system only processes the information necessary to provide a specific service. There will be no new single central database storing all government data on a person in one place. We are consulting on how we can build on existing infrastructure to provide a modern “Government by App” experience that gives users more control over their data than they have now and reduces reliance on manual paperwork.

What steps is he taking to help ensure there are sufficient a) prosecutors, b) defence barristers and c) court staff to increase the number of Crown Court trials.

The Deputy Prime Minister has announced that the Crown Court in England and Wales will be funded to hear as many cases as possible next year to speed up justice for victims. We are working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that there are sufficient prosecutors, and funding has been provided for this.We are taking significant action to support defence barristers and the wider criminal defence profession. In December 2025, we announced additional funding of up to £34 million a year for criminal legal aid advocates, and a commitment to work with the profession to match-fund a number of criminal barrister pupillages to open a career at the Criminal Bar to even more young people from across society. The support for advocates is on top of up to £92 million per year in additional investment, announced in December 2024, we have implemented for criminal legal aid solicitors, which built on a £24 million per year investment in criminal solicitors earlier in the Parliament. This investment reflects the valuable role of criminal defence and will help them to continue to make sure justice is served.An increase in Crown Court staff to support additional sitting days is funded and factored into HMCTS’ workforce planning, and recruitment for these roles is already progressing in each region.

Pursuant to Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 115668, what estimate he has made of the number of additional patients who will need to be treated within four hours in order to meet his target.

NHS England publishes data on the number of patients admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours in accident and emergency (A&E) departments on a monthly basis. The information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/March 2026 data will be published in April. However, in March 2025, there were 2.4 million total A&E attendances, and four hour performance was 75%. In order to meet 78% in March 2025, approximately 72,000 additional patients would have needed to wait less than four hours from arrival to admission, transfer, or discharge.The Government recognises that urgent and emergency care performance has fallen short in recent years.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 sets out clear actions to deliver improvements this winter and beyond. We are aiming for 78% of patients to be seen in in four hours this year, meaning over 800,000 people will receive more timely care.We are investing £250 million into expanding same day and urgent care services, helping avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital and supporting faster diagnosis, treatment, and discharge for patients.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, what proportion of (a) DVLA, (b) DEFRA and (c) HMRC traditional correspondence will be eliminated within five years by a move to digital ID.

The "Government by App" approach intends to modernise public services by reducing reliance on paper forms, traditional correspondence, and manual payment systems. By digitising these interactions, the Government will create a user experience that is more efficient for the public while freeing up traditional routes for those who need them.The digitisation of government services could potentially save up to £45 billion annually. The open consultation on digital identity will directly inform the design and delivery of these services to ensure they are useful, inclusive, and secure.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, what the cost will be of running the People’s Panel.

We need to make sure digital ID works for everyone, and that’s why we’re establishing a People’s Panel on digital ID and running inclusive engagement alongside a traditional consultation. As part of a multi-faceted consultation approach, the People’s Panel will bring together a diverse group of people - selected to be broadly representative of the population of the UK - to consider different perspectives and debate trade-offs. The People’s Panel will cost approximately £630,000.This will be covered under a pre-existing contract with Ipsos signed in March 2024.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, who will convene and manage the People’s Panel.

The People’s Panel is being delivered in partnership with Ipsos UK, which is the primary vendor, under a pre-existing contract signed in March 2024.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, how long existing capacity for traditional contact methods for accessing public services will continue when digital ID is introduced.

The Government is committed to an inclusive digital identity system where existing routes to public services will continue to be available for those who prefer them. The design and rollout of digital ID will be accompanied by an inclusion programme across the UK. This is an opportunity to empower the vulnerable and left behind in our society - inclusion will be at the heart of the design and delivery of the national digital ID.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, whether existing contact routes to accessing public services will continue to be funded at the same levels when digital ID is introduced.

The Government is committed to an inclusive digital identity system where existing routes to public services will continue to be available for those who prefer them. The design and rollout of digital ID will be accompanied by an inclusion programme across the UK. This is an opportunity to empower the vulnerable and left behind in our society - inclusion will be at the heart of the design and delivery of the national digital ID.

Pursuant to Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 115668, what proportion of the £250 million allocated to expand same day and urgent care services will be distributed to a) NHS trusts and b) ICBs.

NHS England is responsible for the operational delivery of the £250 million capital investment to continue expanding same day emergency care and co‑located urgent treatment centres.NHS England has confirmed that this funding will support 40 schemes in 2025/26, comprising 15 new services and 25 expansions. This includes ten new urgent treatment centres (UTCs) and four UTC expansions, alongside five new same day emergency care (SDEC) services and 21 SDEC expansions.The schemes were selected based on business cases submitted by National Health Service trusts who will draw down the funding directly.

Pursuant to Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 115668, what proportion of the £250 million investment in same day and urgent care services will be used to a) expand existing facilities and b) fund new services.

NHS England is responsible for the operational delivery of the £250 million capital investment to continue expanding same day emergency care and co‑located urgent treatment centres.NHS England has confirmed that this funding will support 40 schemes in 2025/26, comprising 15 new services and 25 expansions. This includes ten new urgent treatment centres (UTCs) and four UTC expansions, alongside five new same day emergency care (SDEC) services and 21 SDEC expansions.The schemes were selected based on business cases submitted by National Health Service trusts who will draw down the funding directly.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of current waiting times in accessing disability equipment on people’s ability to live independently.

No assessment has been made of the impact of waiting times in accessing disability equipment on independent living. Local authorities (LAs) in England have a statutory duty under the Care Act 2014, and the Children and Families Act 2014, to make arrangements for the provision of disability aids and community equipment, to meet the assessed eligible needs of individuals who are resident in their area. Some LAs deliver this themselves but a significant number have external contracts for an integrated community equipment service.Guidance to support the implementation of the Care Act 2014 states that community equipment, aids and adaptations can support reablement and promote independence contributing to preventing the needs for care and support.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has recently issued guidance to international travel operators who have reinstated flights to the United Arab Emirates.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 16 March in response to Question 118590.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Tough new rules force suppliers to fix faulty smart meters, published on 10 March 2026, what information his Department holds on the average time taken for suppliers to fix faulty smart meters.

The Department does not hold data on the average time taken by energy suppliers to resolve reported issues with smart meters, but we know too many are waiting an unacceptable amount of time. Ofgem is responsible for regulating suppliers against their obligations to restore smart meters into smart mode and are taking compliance action against the worst performers. The Government wants to speed up the resolution of smart metering communication issues and has confirmed a new requirement (coming into force in May) for suppliers to restore smart meters into smart mode within 90 days or face action by Ofgem.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled Students given stronger protections against extremism on campus, published on 8 March 2026, whether the updated guidance includes safeguards to protect free speech.

The updated guidance will include safeguards to protect freedom of speech within the law and will clearly signpost higher education providers to the Office for Students’ guidance related to freedom of speech here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/regulatory-advice-24-guidance-related-to-freedom-of-speech/. Further guidance will be issued in the Spring on Managing External Speakers and Events to ensure providers can meet their Prevent duty obligations while upholding freedom of speech.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Tough new rules force suppliers to fix faulty smart meters, published on 10 March 2026, whether his Department has a preferred target response time for suppliers to fix faulty smart meters separate to the proposed 90 day maximum response time.

From May 2026 energy suppliers will be obligated to take all reasonable steps to resolve issues with smart meters not operating in smart mode as soon as possible, and within 90 days from when they first become aware of the issue. In many cases we would expect resolution to be well within the 90-day limit. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against this obligation.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Tough new rules force suppliers to fix faulty smart meters, published on 10 March 2026, what information his Department holds on the number of smart meters installed which are faulty.

The Department collects data on smart meters not operating in smart mode at a GB-wide level. The latest statistics on smart meters in operation across Great Britain until the end of 2025 are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/smart-meters-statistics#2025-quarterly-updates.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled Students given stronger protections against extremism on campus, published on 8 March 2026, whether any additional resources will be allocated to the Office for Students to help monitor universities.

The Office for Students will strengthen its monitoring activity by reprioritising its existing resources.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled Students given stronger protections against extremism on campus, published on 8 March 2026, how many university students have been referred under the Prevent duty in each year since 2020.

The Home Office publishes overall Prevent referrals by sector but does not break down the ‘Education’ category between schools, colleges, and universities. However, the Office for Students publishes annual Prevent monitoring data for higher education providers here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/prevent-monitoring-summary-of-2023-24-accountability-and-data-returns/.This includes formal external Prevent referrals. The most recent reporting period 2023/2024 indicates that universities made 65 Prevent referrals, but it does not indicate how many of the individuals involved were students versus staff.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled Students given stronger protections against extremism on campus, published on 8 March 2026, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Prevent duty in higher education institutions.

Higher education (HE) providers are subject to the Prevent duty to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.” To comply with the Prevent duty, providers must demonstrate they have effective policies and procedures in place to safeguard individuals susceptible to radicalisation. This includes assessing the risk of learners becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Under the Prevent duty, the Office for Students (OfS) monitors and evaluates whether universities and other HE providers have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. The OfS has assessed that HE providers are broadly compliant with their Prevent duty requirements. The latest assessment of Prevent monitoring in HE is available here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/prevent-monitoring-summary-of-2023-24-accountability-and-data-returns/.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Tough new rules force suppliers to fix faulty smart meters, published on 10 March 2026, what monitoring mechanisms will be in place to verify that faulty smart meters are repaired within 90 days.

Ofgem is responsible for monitoring the compliance of energy suppliers against their licence conditions and to take any compliance or enforcement action, which could include fines.