Written questions by Hayes.

How many people resident in the European Economic Area claimed Guardian's Allowance in each year since 2020.

The information is only available at disproportionate cost.

How many people living in Switzerland claimed Guardian's Allowance in each year since 2020.

The information is only available at disproportionate cost.

What steps she is taking to meet the demand for specialist SEND school places in Lincolnshire.

The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or who require alternative provision sits with local authorities.This government knows that many children and young people with SEND struggle to find a suitable school placement that is close to their home and meets their needs. We are committed to addressing this by improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools to support a range of needs, reducing the need for pupils to travel a long way to access a specialist placement, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. Many mainstream settings are already going above and beyond to deliver specialist provision locally, including through resourced provision and special educational needs units.The department has now published allocations for £740 million in high needs provision capital allocations for the 2025/26 financial year, to support local authorities to deliver new specialist places.Lincolnshire Council has been allocated £10.3 million for 2025/26, and it is up to the local authority to make decisions about the places they create and to prioritise this funding to meet local needs.

How many people living in Switzerland claimed Child Benefit in each year since 2020.

The information is only available at disproportionate cost.

With reference the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025, whether her Department plans to amend its policy on the use of women only spaces in its buildings by transgender women.

The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling.It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need, but in keeping with the ruling.The Equality and Human Rights Commission is developing its updated statutory Code of Practice to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling.The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.

Communities and Local Government, whether Homes England has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2018.

Homes England has made use of apprentices each year in its workforce since 2017.

How many people living in Liechtenstein claimed Personal Independence Payment in each year since 2020.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. This is because we only centrally record if a PIP claimant is abroad, not the individual country. The total number of PIP claimants living abroad can be found on Stat Xplore. The requested data can be found in the ‘PIP Cases with Entitlement from 2019’ dataset. You can use the ‘Geography’ and ‘Month’ filters to restrict to claimants living abroad from 2020. You will need to expand ‘National – Regional – LA – OAs’, ‘DWP policy ownership’ and then select ‘Abroad’. You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore is also available here: Personal Independence Payment data on Stat-Xplore: user guide - GOV.UK.

How many people living in Iceland claimed Personal Independence Payments in each year since 2020.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. This is because we only centrally record if a PIP claimant is abroad, not the individual country. The total number of PIP claimants living abroad can be found on Stat Xplore. The requested data can be found in the ‘PIP Cases with Entitlement from 2019’ dataset. You can use the ‘Geography’ and ‘Month’ filters to restrict to claimants living abroad from 2020. You will need to expand ‘National – Regional – LA – OAs’, ‘DWP policy ownership’ and then select ‘Abroad’. You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore is also available here: Personal Independence Payment data on Stat-Xplore: user guide - GOV.UK.

How many people living in Norway claimed Personal Independence Payments in each year since 2020.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. This is because we only centrally record if a PIP claimant is abroad, not the individual country. The total number of PIP claimants living abroad can be found on Stat Xplore. The requested data can be found in the ‘PIP Cases with Entitlement from 2019’ dataset. You can use the ‘Geography’ and ‘Month’ filters to restrict to claimants living abroad from 2020. You will need to expand ‘National – Regional – LA – OAs’, ‘DWP policy ownership’ and then select ‘Abroad’. You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore is also available here: Personal Independence Payment data on Stat-Xplore: user guide - GOV.UK.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the (a) unregulated sale and (b) misuse of fireworks on (i) public safety and (ii) property.

Most people use fireworks in a responsible and appropriate manner. The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the risk of dangers and disruption to people, animals, and property. No assessment has been made of the potential impact of the unregulated sale and misuse of fireworks on public safety including the purchase for antisocial use and damage to property. However, to inform any future decisions I have and will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 on tackling the purchase of fireworks for anti-social use.

Most people use fireworks in a responsible and appropriate manner. The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the risk of dangers and disruption to people, animals, and property. No assessment has been made of the potential impact of the unregulated sale and misuse of fireworks on public safety including the purchase for antisocial use and damage to property. However, to inform any future decisions I have and will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks.

How many Police Constable Degree Apprenticeships were (a) started and (b) completed in the last three years.

The Home Office does not routinely publish information on entry routes of police officers.The Home Office published a one-off release including data on the entry routes of police officers recruited during the Police Office Uplift Programme, from 1 November 2019 to 31 March 2023, available here:The data includes the number of police officers recruited via the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship pathway but it does not include the number of completed programmes. The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship is one of four complementary entry routes available for forces to choose from to suit their local workforce requirements. The College of Policing is currently working with the policing sector and other partners to ensure that all police constable entry routes are as effective as they can be, to improve the experience of forces and participants and to enable streamlined, practical training with reduced cost to forces.

How many people resident in Switzerland claimed New Style Jobseeker's Allowance in the last three years.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

How many people resident in the European Economic Area claimed New Style Job Seekers Allowance in the last three years.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

How many people living in Switzerland received Personal Independence Payments in each year since 2020.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. This is because we only centrally record if a PIP claimant is abroad, not the individual country. For eligibility to PIP, you can be abroad for up to 13 weeks without your PIP claim being affected. This is 26 weeks if you are going abroad for medically necessary treatment. We have no current plans to change the eligibility rules. The total number of PIP claimants living abroad can be found on Stat Xplore. The requested data can be found in the ‘PIP Cases with Entitlement from 2019’ dataset. You can use the ‘Geography’ and ‘Month’ filters to restrict to claimants living abroad from 2020. You will need to expand ‘National – Regional – LA – OAs’, ‘DWP policy ownership’ and then select ‘Abroad’. You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore is also available here: Personal Independence Payment data on Stat-Xplore: user guide - GOV.UK.

How many people living in the EU claimed Personal Independence Payment in each year since 2020.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. This is because we only centrally record if a PIP claimant is abroad, not the individual country. For eligibility to PIP, you can be abroad for up to 13 weeks without your PIP claim being affected. This is 26 weeks if you are going abroad for medically necessary treatment. We have no current plans to change the eligibility rules. The total number of PIP claimants living abroad can be found on Stat Xplore. The requested data can be found in the ‘PIP Cases with Entitlement from 2019’ dataset. You can use the ‘Geography’ and ‘Month’ filters to restrict to claimants living abroad from 2020. You will need to expand ‘National – Regional – LA – OAs’, ‘DWP policy ownership’ and then select ‘Abroad’. You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore is also available here: Personal Independence Payment data on Stat-Xplore: user guide - GOV.UK.

Whether he plans to review the penalties for the anti-social use of fireworks leading to significant criminal damage.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police and local authorities with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour, including the misuse of fireworks. To inform any future decisions I have and will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues with and impacts of fireworks.

With reference to the Supreme Court ruling published on April 16, what plans her Department has to amend its policy on the use of women-only spaces in its buildings by transgender women.

The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality & Human Rights Commission, as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling. The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.

Media and Sport, with reference to the Supreme Court ruling published on April 16, what plans her Department has to amend its policy on the use of women-only spaces in its buildings by transgender women.

The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling.It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling.The Equality & Human Rights Commission, as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling.The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the level of funds invested by Chinese firms in the UK water sector in the next ten years.

The Government recognises the important role of independent regulation in attracting the investment our water sector needs to deliver for both current and future consumers. We are aware there has been investment into the water sector in the UK by Chinese investors. Under Ofwat’s current processes, Ofwat are notified of acquisitions in line with water company licence conditions. Ofwat, as the independent economic regulator, protects the interests of consumers by making sure water companies carry out their statutory functions and are financially resilient as well as holding them to account on overall performance and delivery of essential services. These same standards and licence conditions apply across all water companies, regardless of whether they are owned by foreign or domestic investors.