Written questions by Hayes.

If he will expand the qualifying criteria of the nuclear test medal so that veterans of the (a) 1960s, (b) 1970s and (c) 1980s who flew sampling missions through nuclear clouds of foreign nations are eligible.

This Government has reset the relationship with Nuclear Test Veterans and the organisations that support them, and we remain committed to listening to their concerns and working collaboratively to address them. As at 30 June 2025, officials had reviewed over 43,000 files, including files from the Merlin Database, as part of the exercise that is looking at concerns raised with me about some Nuclear Test Veterans’ medical records. I will update the House when we are in a position to share the findings of the exercise. This Government continues to celebrate the stories of our Nuclear Test Veterans. Most recently, the Universities of South Wales and Liverpool led a government-funded oral history project which was published in early July. In 2024, the eligibility criteria for the Nuclear Test Medal (NTM) were expanded to include UK personnel who actively participated in all US atmospheric tests. Further requests for the expansion of the NTM eligibility criteria may be considered, and any formal proposal to do so would need to be endorsed by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) and approved by His Majesty The King.

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

The Vehicle Certification Agency’s (VCA’s) spend is shown below:- Financial Year2022/232023/242024/25Total Spend (£)3,675.003,750.002,700.00

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

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency staff were previously entitled to claim up to £100 to help purchase the equipment necessary to work from home due to the impact of the pandemic. This arrangement ended towards the end of the 2023-2024 financial year. The table below shows the information requested. Please note that while some equipment has been provided in the 2024/25 financial year, this has been provided as business as usual and not specifically to facilitate working from home: 2022 – 2023£5,811.062023 – 2024£3,028.232024 – 2025£0

What stage of the approval process his request of the Advisory Medal Sub-Committee for an expansion of the criteria of the nuclear test medal is at.

This Government has reset the relationship with Nuclear Test Veterans and the organisations that support them, and we remain committed to listening to their concerns and working collaboratively to address them. As at 30 June 2025, officials had reviewed over 43,000 files, including files from the Merlin Database, as part of the exercise that is looking at concerns raised with me about some Nuclear Test Veterans’ medical records. I will update the House when we are in a position to share the findings of the exercise. This Government continues to celebrate the stories of our Nuclear Test Veterans. Most recently, the Universities of South Wales and Liverpool led a government-funded oral history project which was published in early July. In 2024, the eligibility criteria for the Nuclear Test Medal (NTM) were expanded to include UK personnel who actively participated in all US atmospheric tests. Further requests for the expansion of the NTM eligibility criteria may be considered, and any formal proposal to do so would need to be endorsed by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) and approved by His Majesty The King.

If he will take steps to seek a Royal reception with His Majesty the King to honour nuclear testing veterans.

This Government has reset the relationship with nuclear test veterans and the organisations that support them, and we remain committed to listening to their concerns and working collaboratively to address them. As of 30 June 2025, officials have reviewed over 43,000 files, including files from the Merlin Database, as part of the exercise that is looking at concerns raised with me about some Nuclear Test Veterans’ medical records. I will update the House when we are in a position to share the findings of the exercise. This Government continues to celebrate the stories of our nuclear veterans. Most recently the Universities of South Wales and Liverpool led a government-funded oral history project which was published in early July. It would not be appropriate for me to comment specifically on Royal receptions, which are matters for The Royal Household.

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

This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, to write to the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

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

Ofwat's staff balance working from home and in the office. This is important to support collaboration, build and sustain relationships with others, and support the delivery of Ofwat's business outcomes. Working from the office provides opportunities for face-to-face interaction and connection, in-person meetings, and networking. Taking this hybrid approach, Ofwat recognises that staff are likely to incur new or additional spend on hybrid working incidentals. Ofwat has spent the following on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years: 2022/23 - £3240.922023/24 - £9584.552024/25 - £14,142.46

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

This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

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

Active Travel England (ATE) staff are provided equipment from the Department for Transport to enable them 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. ATE does not record expenditure in a way that separately identifies costs specifically related to home working. Additionally, ATE’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 Legal Aid Agency has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

This information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.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 His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service 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. All employees are expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.The Department does not record expenditure in a way that separately identifies costs specifically related to home working. Reviewing individual invoices to collate this information would incur disproportionate costs.

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

Rural Payments Agency employees can be reimbursed the cost of purchasing some equipment to help make sure they have the right equipment to work safely from home in line with the department’s working from home policy. The Rural Payments Agency is unable to respond with how much has been spent specifically to facilitate home working as the information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. 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.

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

Obtaining information on how much the UK Space Agency (UKSA) has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.The UKSA has its own policies relating to provision of equipment for working from home in line with Health and Safety legislation and how this is procured or employees reimbursed.The UKSA have agreed that 40-60% minimum office attendance for staff continues to be the best balance of working for the UKSA.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the estimate in the report by the OBR entitled Fiscal risks and sustainability, published in July 2025 of the fiscal cost of climate change mitigation.

In its most recent ‘Fiscal risks and sustainability report’ (2025), the OBR is clear that the costs of climate damage are getting higher, while the cost of the net zero transition is getting lower. Only by investing in the transition now can we reduce costs in future.

How much the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The following table outlines the amounts the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three financial years.Financial YearTotal Cost2022-23£3,938.152023-24£853.982024-25£3,923.81Total Spend£8,715.94

How much the Office of the Public Guardian has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Information on the cost of equipment provided specially for home working cannot be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost, due to the way these costs are recorded.

How much His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service has spent on equipment for staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Obtaining this information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

What machine learning models her Department has used to help tackle fraud in the last three years.

DWP uses Machine Learning as an analytical tool in the prevention and detection of fraud and error. There is currently one fraud and error machine learning model in full deployment and others at various stages of development, testing and implementation, focused on the highest areas of loss.

Communities and Local Government, how much HM Land Registry has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Following the coronavirus pandemic, HM Land Registry (HMLR) has enabled all staff to work both from home and from the office in line with the government’s 60% office attendance requirements. 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. As part of this change, HMLR has, through its standard IT and equipment refresh programme, provided all staff with laptops and the necessary equipment to enable them to work in a hybrid fashion. This is now the standard departmental provision of equipment and as such the majority of the associated costs are not specific to home working. As part of this approach, HMLR offers new staff appropriate furniture and peripheral IT equipment to enable them to work at home as part of this hybrid arrangement. It is estimated that this can cost up to £500 per person and is based upon need.

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

The Forestry Commission provides IT equipment to support staff working in a blended way, between office space and home and also a small number of contracted home workers. Equipment is procured through best-value frameworks, including the Civil Service Purchase Platform, and is redeployed wherever possible to ensure value for money. Estimated expenditure on IT equipment to support staff working from home or in a blended capacity: Forestry Commission (Forest Services, Forestry England and Commissioners Office):2022: £29,398.382023: £29,727.762024: £39,564.862025 to date: £11,195.95 Forest Research:2023–24: £2,790.342024–25: £1,175.782025–26 to date: £1,013.27