Written questions by Brown-Fuller.

If she will (a) make support for the Music and Dance Scheme permanent and (b) uplift the threshold for that support to £55,000.

For the 2024/25 academic year, the department adjusted the Music and Dance Scheme bursary contribution for families with a relevant income below £45,000 to account for the VAT introduction from January 2025. This methodology will be reviewed for future years and details will be set out in due course.

Whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.

Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.

What steps his Department plans to take to consider the recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.

Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.

Whether the Government plans to implement the recommendations within the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.

Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.

With reference to the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of launching a public consultation on infant formula regulations.

Infant feeding is critical to a baby’s healthy growth and development. The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. Whilst breastfeeding has significant health benefits, we recognise that for those families that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital that they have access to infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Infant formula regulations ensure that all infant formula is suitable for meeting the nutritional needs of babies, regardless of the price or brand.The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with other Government Departments and the Devolved Governments to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will also be consulted.The legislation which sets the general principles and requirements of overall food law places a statutory requirement to consult on potential changes to food law.

Whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the Competition and Markets Authority's infant formula and follow-on formula market study, published on 14 February 2025.

The Government welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s final market study report on infant formula and follow-on formula. We are working with the Devolved Governments closely to consider its recommendations, and relevant Ministers will agree a formal response collectively. We will work to ensure that any outcomes are in the best interest of consumers and public health.

What progress her Department has made with the Office for Students on implementing the third category of registration for (a) smaller and (b) specialist providers of (i) Trinity College London level five and six Professional Performing Arts Diplomas and (ii) other qualifications in the context of accessing the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

The government is fully committed to delivering the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) as set out in the Autumn Budget 2024. From the LLE’s launch in January 2027, the Office for Students (OfS) will regulate all providers offering LLE-funded provision.The OfS has made clear that they expect to restart work on registrations, degree awarding powers and university titles in August 2025, although the changes will remain under review until then. The department understands the OfS will keep providers updated throughout this period about their plans, including confirming application arrangements from August onwards. As the independent regulator, it is for the OfS to process registrations in the manner they deem most appropriate.The government will continue to engage closely with the OfS and providers to support timely transition arrangements for the launch of the LLE. The government, together with the OfS, will provide further information on the regulation of providers under the LLE in spring 2025.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of current diagnosis and treatment pathways for patients with peripheral arterial disease.

The Department is working with NHS England to take several steps to improve diagnosis, care and treatment for patients with peripheral arterial disease. For example, in 2022, NHS England commissioned a two-year Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme, which incentivised the adoption of the Vascular Peripheral Arterial Disease Quality Improvement Framework, to support timely interventions for revascularisation. This measures the proportion of patients that have a diagnosis of chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) that undergo revascularisation within five days of a non-elective admission to vascular providers.As part of NHS England’s assessment on the adequacy of current diagnosis and treatment pathways, it commissions the National Vascular Registry (NVR) to provide information on the quality and outcomes of care for adults who have major vascular procedures. The NVR provides annual and quarterly reports for emergency and elective vascular procedures, including for those people with peripheral arterial disease who undergo either lower limb angioplasty/stent, lower limb bypass surgery, or major lower limb amputation.Following the introduction of these measures we can see that from over a two-year period from the first quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2024, NVR data demonstrated that vascular providers achieving the CQUIN had increased from 47% to 55%. During this period, the number of providers submitting data to the NVR had also increased by approximately 14% and every National Health Service region showed an improvement in CLTI revascularisation quality.Furthermore, NHS England has commissioned the NVR to facilitate an ‘outliers’ process in which vascular providers are monitored on several key performance metrics including CLTI revascularisation. NHS England continues to monitor all specialised vascular disease services via the NVR and working in collaboration with NHS England regional teams and integrated care boards.

If he will take steps to (a) improve diagnosis and care pathways for patients with peripheral arterial disease and (b) improve funding routes for the adoption of innovative technologies that will facilitate faster and safer diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

The Department is working with NHS England to take several steps to improve diagnosis, care and treatment for patients with peripheral arterial disease. For example, in 2022, NHS England commissioned a two-year Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme, which incentivised the adoption of the Vascular Peripheral Arterial Disease Quality Improvement Framework, to support timely interventions for revascularisation. This measures the proportion of patients that have a diagnosis of chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) that undergo revascularisation within five days of a non-elective admission to vascular providers.As part of NHS England’s assessment on the adequacy of current diagnosis and treatment pathways, it commissions the National Vascular Registry (NVR) to provide information on the quality and outcomes of care for adults who have major vascular procedures. The NVR provides annual and quarterly reports for emergency and elective vascular procedures, including for those people with peripheral arterial disease who undergo either lower limb angioplasty/stent, lower limb bypass surgery, or major lower limb amputation.Following the introduction of these measures we can see that from over a two-year period from the first quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2024, NVR data demonstrated that vascular providers achieving the CQUIN had increased from 47% to 55%. During this period, the number of providers submitting data to the NVR had also increased by approximately 14% and every National Health Service region showed an improvement in CLTI revascularisation quality.Furthermore, NHS England has commissioned the NVR to facilitate an ‘outliers’ process in which vascular providers are monitored on several key performance metrics including CLTI revascularisation. NHS England continues to monitor all specialised vascular disease services via the NVR and working in collaboration with NHS England regional teams and integrated care boards.

What plans his Department has to improve access to preventative intervention for patients at risk of lower-limb amputation.

For patients at risk of lower-limb amputation, including those diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI), timely interventions for revascularisation are crucial, along with preventative measures and early diagnosis.In 2022, NHS England commissioned a two-year Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme, which incentivised the adoption of the Peripheral Arterial Disease Quality Improvement Framework (PAD-QIF), which aims to reduce delays in assessment, investigation, and revascularisation in patients with CLTI and in turn amputation rates.Alongside this, NHS England has implemented a range of initiatives aimed at improving prevention and early diagnosis of conditions which increase the risk of needing lower-limb amputations. These include NHS Health Checks for early detection of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, and expanding community diagnostic centres (CDCs) to improve early detection.The 10-Year Health Plan, once published, will set out the Government's overarching vision for delivering the critical shift from a focus on treating illness to preventing conditions such as CVD.

If she will have discussions with stakeholders to create a proportional route for registration for (a) smaller providers (b) specialist providers, including (i) all such providers and (ii) those that offer Trinity College London’s Level 5 and 6 Professional Performing Arts diplomas, with the Office for Students to access the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

I refer the hon. Member for Chichester to the answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 36314.

What discussions his Department has had with stakeholders on the potential merits of auto-enrolling all eligible families to the Healthy Start programme.

The Healthy Start scheme was introduced in 2006 to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households. It can be used to buy, or put towards the cost of, fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk, and infant formula. Those on the scheme have access to free Healthy Start Vitamins for pregnant women and children aged under four years old.The Department has been approached by, and engaged with, stakeholders regarding autoenrollment. The scheme is kept under review, and we remain open to all viable routes to improve uptake to ensure that as many eligible people as possible are accessing the scheme, to support their children with a healthy start in life. In January 2025, Healthy Start supported over 353,000 people.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of infant and baby products with high sugar content.

Data shows that babies and young children are eating too much sugar, and that some commercial baby foods, particularly finger foods, contain added sugar or high sugar ingredients. This does not align with the recommendations from the independent Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, that in diets of children aged one to five years old, foods, including snacks that are high in free sugars, should be limited, and that commercially manufactured foods and drinks marketed specifically for infants and young children are not needed to meet nutrition requirements.The Government is committed to raising the healthiest next generation ever. We will provide an update on the publication of voluntary industry guidelines to limit the levels of sugar, and salt, in commercially available baby food and drink in due course.

If she will undertake a review of the maintained nursery school supplementary funding formula.

Additional supplementary funding is provided to local authorities for maintained nursery schools (MNS) in their areas. In the 2025/26 financial year, the initial budget for MNS supplementary funding is £92.6 million, subject to final budget update. The national average hourly rate for MNS supplementary funding in financial year 2025/26 is £5.90, the minimum supplementary funding rate is £5.27 and the cap on the hourly rate is £10. Changes to the MNS supplementary funding formula were made in the 2023/24 financial year including an additional £10 million investment and an introduction of a minimum hourly funding rate to distribute funding evenly across all local authorities with MNS. At present, there are no plans to review the formula beyond this.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of abolishing the notion of reasonable chastisement.

Violence towards children and abuse of children are never acceptable. There are laws in place to protect children against this.Wales is in the process of reviewing the impact of removing the defence of reasonable chastisement and the UK Government expects that the Welsh Government will publish their findings by the end of this year. Ministers in the department will want to consider this evidence, with other government ministers, ahead of deciding whether a change to the law is required.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing a unique ID for every child to (a) facilitate data sharing between public bodies and (b) identify children not in school or any form of education.

Implementing a unique ID for every child has been regularly cited as a potential solution to bring together data on children’s interactions with different services. The government’s manifesto for the 2024 election included a commitment to this end (on page 81) and the government is committed to improving data sharing across services, with a single unique identifier, to better support children and families. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, currently before Parliament, introduces a legal provision for a consistent identifier to be specified and the organisations required to use it, to be determined later through regulations. Alongside this, the department will initiate a pilot to establish how a consistent identifier can be effectively implemented. The Bill also includes provisions for compulsory ‘Children Not in School’ registers in each local authority area in England. While the introduction of these registers does not depend on a consistent identifier, it may enhance data linking, which the department will explore through future piloting.

What recent assessment she has made of the level of support provided to Ukrainian refugees in applying to UK universities.

The government remains committed to giving all Ukrainians in the UK the same access to education as enjoyed by UK citizens. Persons granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes, including the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, have access to higher education (HE) student support and home fee status on the same basis as those within other protection-based categories, such as refugees. Support on applying to HE courses can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/higher-education-courses-find-and-apply, where students can explore a range of resources to help them apply to UK HE providers. Organisations such as the UK Council for International Student Affairs also provide extensive information and support for Ukrainian students wishing to study in the UK, including a student advice line.

Whether her Department plans to create a pathway for Ukrainian refugees to apply to UK universities.

The government remains committed to giving all Ukrainians in the UK the same access to education as enjoyed by UK citizens. Persons granted leave under one of the Ukraine Schemes, including the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, have access to higher education (HE) student support and home fee status on the same basis as those within other protection-based categories, such as refugees. Support on applying to HE courses can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/higher-education-courses-find-and-apply, where students can explore a range of resources to help them apply to UK HE providers. Organisations such as the UK Council for International Student Affairs also provide extensive information and support for Ukrainian students wishing to study in the UK, including a student advice line.

If she will make (a) schools and (b) education providers statutory safeguarding partners.

​The involvement of education and childcare agencies is fundamental at all levels of safeguarding arrangements. The department knows that teachers and educators are often the first to spot warning signs of abuse and neglect and are the largest referrer of cases into children’s social care, after the police.The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which the government introduced into the House of Commons in December of last year, will place a duty on safeguarding partners to automatically include education and childcare settings in their safeguarding arrangements. The duty on safeguarding partners will ensure education is consistently involved in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements across England. It will include include all education and childcare agencies, at both operational and strategic levels of their safeguarding arrangements, so they have a clear role in safeguarding locally.​These measures include all education settings, covering early years and childcare settings through to schools, colleges and alternative provision, so that opportunities to keep children safe are not missed.This legislation enables the voice of education to influence the decisions of safeguarding partners and recognises the key role that education plays in keeping children safe.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of safeguarding leads in schools being violence against women and girls accredited.

Children’s wellbeing and safety, including reducing violence against women and girls, is a key priority for this government. A robust safeguarding framework is in place that schools and colleges must have regard to in the form of keeping children safe in education (KCSIE).This guidance is clear that every school must have a designated safeguarding lead (DSL) who should take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection. Annex C of the guidance sets out the role and expectations placed on DSLs.The department does not prescribe the training and accreditation that DSLs should receive. However, DSLs are required to undergo the training needed to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out their role effectively within their school and community context. This includes how to identify, understand and respond to the specific needs that increase the vulnerability of children, as well as the many specific harms that put children at risk, which includes violence against women and girls.Education can be a significant protective factor for children who are vulnerable, either as victims and/or perpetrators of violence against women and girls. KCSIE requires schools to implement whole-school behaviour policies to reduce incidents of violence, put pastoral support in place to support both victims and perpetrators of violence, and to ensure that all school staff understand their role within their local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements in escalating concerns about children to local authority services.