Written questions by Hayes.

Innovation and Technology, how much the Intellectual Property Office has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Intellectual Property Office does not hold a complete central record of all spending on equipment to support home working as provision can be made utilising office surplus or stock equipment. Information is only centrally recorded where the individual costs exceed £500 or recorded as a reasonable adjustment in line with Health and Safety legislation for Occupational Health.The Office has spent the following on equipment for safe and productive home working:(i) 2022-23 = £27,069.13(ii) 2023-24 = £8250.11(iii) 2024-25 = Zero spendTo obtain comprehensive data for each of the last three years, it would be necessary to contact holders of asset registers across the organisation, which would not be possible within the timeframe for responding to a Written Parliamentary Question, and would incur a disproportionate cost.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Exact costs are not available for the amount the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science’s spent on dedicated home office equipment although they are low for this three-year period.

How much the Teaching Regulation Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) adheres to the departmental policy of providing workplace adjustments where appropriate. The cost of providing equipment for use at home to facilitate workplace adjustments for TRA staff is shown below:Financial YearCost2022/23£02023/24£02024/25£316.99 Heads of departments have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

How much the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Answering the question raised by the Rt. Hon. Member would unfortunately require the Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency’s staff to go through a large volume of data manually, thereby exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold. This is because the information is not held in such a way to be able to filter by the requested category.The Guide to Parliamentary Work sets here out that there is an advisory cost limit known as the disproportionate cost threshold, which is the level above which departments can decide not to answer a written question. The current disproportionate cost threshold is £850, although the limit does not apply to oral questions. The Guide to Parliamentary Work is published online and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work The threshold is pegged at 140% of the Freedom of Information Act cost limit, currently £600, to the nearest £50. Where a change in the Freedom of Information cost limit occurs, the Cabinet Office will make a written statement to advise Parliament of the new disproportionate cost threshold.

How much the Government Internal Audit Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) staff are provided with IT equipment to enable them to work across multiple locations. This is a managed service provided by HM Treasury, who manage this contract on behalf of GIAA. GIAA staff can request “Work from home IT kits” (e.g., screens, headsets, keyboards, and mice) through HM Treasury. GIAA does not hold information on the expenditure for these requests, and HM Treasury does not disaggregate their information on total IT spend to identify spend on GIAA staff requests. The total spend for HM Treasury Group on these work from home IT kits is noted in HM Treasury’s response to PQ 63519 GIAA provides additional IT equipment outside the managed service to support hybrid or home working, such as to support reasonable adjustments. Details of GIAA’s recorded IT expenditure for this purpose are listed below 2022-23: £10,105 2023-24: £2,474 2024-25: £1,779

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with social media firms to help tackle algorithmically accelerated misinformation.

The Online Safety Act (OSA) requires social media companies to tackle online misinformation and disinformation that is (a) illegal or (b) harmful to children.These companies are required to carry out risk assessments that specifically consider how algorithms could impact online users’ exposure to illegal content, including illegal mis- and disinformation, and take steps to mitigate and effectively manage any identified risks.Ofcom are currently consulting on a further set of targeted safety measures designed to make online services safer by design, including a new measure on moderating algorithms.

How much the Government Actuary’s Department has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) is an office (or workplace) based organisation with a solely UK presence. In line with Cabinet Office policy, GAD expects a 60% minimum office attendance for all staff. To enable hybrid working and to meet requirements for workplace adjustments (DSE), GAD has spent: 2021/222022/232023/24Hybrid working Equipment£6,748.90£5,093.56£7,148.37DSE Equipment£0.00£30.05£677.81Total spend£6,748.90£5,123.61£7,826.18 GAD has no home working contracts in place.

How much the UK Debt Management Office has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) is an office-based organisation with a solely UK presence. In line with Cabinet Office policy, the DMO expects a 60% minimum office attendance for most staff which continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. The table below shows the DMO’s spending on home working equipment for each of the three previous financial years. The higher spend in 2022-23 and 2024-25 was for updated equipment to enable essential software upgrades (87% and 97% respectively of the total spend). YearSpend2022-23£25,0002023-24£4,0002024-25£49,000

How much the United Kingdom Health Security Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The UK Health Security Agency has spent the following amounts on equipment for its staff to work from home in each financial year:£111,213 in 2024/25;£138,665 in 2023/24; and£147,063 in 2022/23.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s (VMD’s) spend on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years is: YearTotal FY2022/23£10,579.77 FY2023/24£6,248.34 FY2024/25£3,235.72 The VMD is unable to differentiate between costs that are associated with the provision of equipment for use at home relating to a workplace adjustment, and formal working contracts versus any costs associated with hybrid working arrangements. Obtaining this information could only be achieved at a disproportionate cost. The VMD, in common with other directorates and Government departments, has agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

How much the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued a range of equipment to support staff in working from home. Based on available records covering the past three years:Monitors: 123 units issued at an approximate cost of £24,600 (£200 each).Printers: 8 units issued at an approximate cost of £1,600 (£200 each).

How much the Pensions Ombudsman has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Pensions Ombudsman operates a hybrid working model. Therefore, the provision of equipment for staff to use when working at home is made in line with Health and Safety legislation and workplace adjustment requirements. Over the last three years, the following has been contributed to support staff on the days they are not working in the office: £6,868 in in 2022/23, £6,289 in 2023/24 and £2,243 in 2024/25.

Innovation and Technology, how much Building Digital UK has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2025, Building Digital UK (BDUK) followed the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) policy on staff working from home. During this period, BDUK spent a total of £1,909.49 on equipment to enable staff to work from home.Of this amount, £1,609.50 was spent in the 2022-23 financial year and £299.99 in the 2023-24 financial year. BDUK did not spend any money on equipment to enable staff to work from home in the 2024-25 financial year.

How much the Standards and Testing Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is an executive agency of the department and follows our policies on hybrid working and the purchase of equipment for use at home.The department has set an expectation that colleagues spend at least 60% of their working time in the office or another work setting. Employees who work from home as part of a flexible arrangement, and not as part of a contractual arrangement, are expected to have access to a suitable workspace and equipment at their own cost. The exception to this would be equipment recommended as a part of a reasonable adjustment following an occupational health assessment, but such equipment would be charged to a central departmental budget rather than to STA.STA has no recorded expenditure on equipment to enable staff to work from home in any of the last three financial years.

How much the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) provides equipment that enables staff to work across multiple locations, including from home where appropriate. This includes meeting legal obligations to provide reasonable workplace adjustments for staff who require them.However, the DVSA does not record expenditure in a way that separately identifies costs specifically related to home working. Additionally, the Department for Transport’s hybrid working policy is non-contractual and does not entitle staff to additional equipment or to be reimbursed for items to facilitate home working.

How much the Education and Skills Funding Agency spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The department and its executive agencies, including the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), only provide equipment for home working in the case of a workplace adjustment related to a disability and which the Equality Act requires us to support. Departmental spend over the last three years, which includes ESFA spend, on equipment which exceeded £500: Financial YearTotal spend on equipment exceeding £5002022/23£28,103.732023/24£53,675.592024/25£46,576 To obtain comprehensive data which includes spending on equipment below £500 for each of the last three years, it would be necessary to contact individual teams across the department and agencies, which would not be possible within the timeframe for responding to a PQ, and would incur a disproportionate cost.

With reference to page 61 of the policy paper entitled Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, published on 1 July 2025, whether the delivery indicators will include the size of the illicit tobacco trade.

Following the publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, the Department and NHS England are working closely together on delivery plans for the commitments made in the plan. These plans will consider how best to support the public’s health needs and the financial sustainability of our National Health Service.Data on the size of the illicit tobacco trade is published annually by HM Revenue and Customs, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/measuring-tax-gaps/3-tax-gaps-excise-including-alcohol-tobacco-and-oils

If he will take steps to increase funding support for community-based specialist brain injury services.

The Government wants a society where every person, including those with a long-term condition such as an acquired brain injury (ABI), receives high-quality, compassionate continuity of care. We recognise the profound impact that brain injuries can have on an individual and their loved ones, and recognise that there is a need for national action to improve the lives of people who have experienced an ABI. We intend to develop an ABI Action Plan, with input from NHS England and other Government departments, to be published in the autumn of this year. The recently published 10-Year Health Plan provides the overarching plan for the future of the National Health Service, and a subsequent ABI plan would then focus on specific actions and deliverables for ABI against the backdrop of the 10-Year Health Plan. This will ensure a coherent, targeted approach. The new ABI Action Plan will be concise, action-oriented, and accountable, in order to drive real change for people with ABI. In January 2025, NHS England published the guidance Standardising community health services, which outlines the core community health services that integrated care boards (ICBs) should consider when planning services for their local population. Community rehabilitation for people with neurological conditions is named as one of the ICB-funded core components of community health services. Further information on Standardising community health services is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/standardising-community-health-services/ The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently developing guidance on rehabilitation for people with chronic neurological disorders, including acquired brain injury, which is expected to be published in September.  Further information is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10181NHS England’s Neurology Transformation Programme is also working with the National Clinical Director for Neurology and the Neurology Clinical Reference Group to develop a revised service specification for neurology. The revised service specification for Specialised Neurology Services in England will cover ABI and is expected to be published later in 2025.

What steps she is taking to support police to enforce laws prohibiting e-scooters being ridden on pavements.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.Our Crime and Policing Bill will give the police greater powers to clamp down on all vehicles, including e-scooters, involved in anti-social behaviour with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles.On 28 May, the Government launched a six-week consultation on proposals to allow the police to more quickly dispose of seized vehicles such as e-scooters, which have been used anti-socially.Combined, these proposals will help tackle the scourge of vehicles ridden anti-socially by sending a clear message to would be offenders and local communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated.There are various offences relating to e-scooter use that the police can enforce with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). Riding an e-scooter on the pavement can result in a FPN of £50.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Animal and Plant Health Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

For desk-based Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) staff, APHA Directors have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service in line with departmental policies.