Written questions by Johnson.

What the budget was for the prison education dynamic purchasing system in each of the last five financial years.

The Prison Education Budget has not been reduced but increased costs mean that many prisons will experience a reduction in core-contract provision.The value of the Prisoner Education Framework contracts between 01 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 was £138 million. We are unable to provide a set contract value for the period 01 October 2025 – 30 September 2026 as this period spans two contract years. Comparisons between individual service budgets year on year are not straightforward due to changes in contract structure and delivery arrangements. Additionally, the overall prison education budget includes a range of services beyond core education and the Prison Education Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), such as libraries, higher education and further education and Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG).The CIAG contract value for financial year 2025-26 is £9.3 million.We have set out the previous five years’ DPS budgets below:Financial Year DPS Budget Notes 2021-22£22.3mThis is a combined total for DPS and CIAG.2022-23£14.1mThese figures represent the total spent by Prison Governors on DPS without CIAG.2023-24£13.9m2024-25£12.7m2025-26£12.0mThis excludes the budget for the national CIAG service launched 01 April 2025.

What the value is of the Prison Education Service Careers Information, Advice and Guidance contracts in the 2025-26 financial year.

The Prison Education Budget has not been reduced but increased costs mean that many prisons will experience a reduction in core-contract provision.The value of the Prisoner Education Framework contracts between 01 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 was £138 million. We are unable to provide a set contract value for the period 01 October 2025 – 30 September 2026 as this period spans two contract years. Comparisons between individual service budgets year on year are not straightforward due to changes in contract structure and delivery arrangements. Additionally, the overall prison education budget includes a range of services beyond core education and the Prison Education Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), such as libraries, higher education and further education and Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG).The CIAG contract value for financial year 2025-26 is £9.3 million.We have set out the previous five years’ DPS budgets below:Financial Year DPS Budget Notes 2021-22£22.3mThis is a combined total for DPS and CIAG.2022-23£14.1mThese figures represent the total spent by Prison Governors on DPS without CIAG.2023-24£13.9m2024-25£12.7m2025-26£12.0mThis excludes the budget for the national CIAG service launched 01 April 2025.

What the budget is for the prison education dynamic purchasing system in the 2025-26 financial year.

The Prison Education Budget has not been reduced but increased costs mean that many prisons will experience a reduction in core-contract provision.The value of the Prisoner Education Framework contracts between 01 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 was £138 million. We are unable to provide a set contract value for the period 01 October 2025 – 30 September 2026 as this period spans two contract years. Comparisons between individual service budgets year on year are not straightforward due to changes in contract structure and delivery arrangements. Additionally, the overall prison education budget includes a range of services beyond core education and the Prison Education Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), such as libraries, higher education and further education and Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG).The CIAG contract value for financial year 2025-26 is £9.3 million.We have set out the previous five years’ DPS budgets below:Financial Year DPS Budget Notes 2021-22£22.3mThis is a combined total for DPS and CIAG.2022-23£14.1mThese figures represent the total spent by Prison Governors on DPS without CIAG.2023-24£13.9m2024-25£12.7m2025-26£12.0mThis excludes the budget for the national CIAG service launched 01 April 2025.

What the value was of the Prison Education Service Core Education contracts between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

The Prison Education Budget has not been reduced but increased costs mean that many prisons will experience a reduction in core-contract provision.The value of the Prisoner Education Framework contracts between 01 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 was £138 million. We are unable to provide a set contract value for the period 01 October 2025 – 30 September 2026 as this period spans two contract years. Comparisons between individual service budgets year on year are not straightforward due to changes in contract structure and delivery arrangements. Additionally, the overall prison education budget includes a range of services beyond core education and the Prison Education Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), such as libraries, higher education and further education and Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG).The CIAG contract value for financial year 2025-26 is £9.3 million.We have set out the previous five years’ DPS budgets below:Financial Year DPS Budget Notes 2021-22£22.3mThis is a combined total for DPS and CIAG.2022-23£14.1mThese figures represent the total spent by Prison Governors on DPS without CIAG.2023-24£13.9m2024-25£12.7m2025-26£12.0mThis excludes the budget for the national CIAG service launched 01 April 2025.

What assessment his Department has made of trends in variations in the use of criminal behaviour orders across police force areas.

The number of Criminal Behaviour Orders issued broken down by local justice area, police force area, sex, age, and the requested ethnicities for the last five years are provided in the attached tables.The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for a wide range of offences, including breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order in the ‘Outcomes by Offences data tool’, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.However, it is not possible to state what proportion of orders are breached, as the data does not track individuals who were issued a Criminal Behaviour Order and then subsequently breached the order – they are recorded separately.Policy responsibility for Criminal Behaviour Orders is a matter for the Home Office.

What proportion of Criminal Behaviour Orders issued in each of the last five years were subsequently breached; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of these Orders in reducing reoffending.

The number of Criminal Behaviour Orders issued broken down by local justice area, police force area, sex, age, and the requested ethnicities for the last five years are provided in the attached tables.The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for a wide range of offences, including breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order in the ‘Outcomes by Offences data tool’, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.However, it is not possible to state what proportion of orders are breached, as the data does not track individuals who were issued a Criminal Behaviour Order and then subsequently breached the order – they are recorded separately.Policy responsibility for Criminal Behaviour Orders is a matter for the Home Office.

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, updated on 6 June 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) people under 18 years and (b) all people affected by the proposed changes to (i) settlement and (ii) citizenship.

The new settlement rules will be subject both to an equality impact assessment and to a public consultation later this year. Details of how this initiative will work will be provided around that consultation. The citizenship proposals will be developed in line with the settlement ones.

How many criminal behaviour orders have been issued in each local justice area in each of the last five years.

The number of Criminal Behaviour Orders issued broken down by local justice area, police force area, sex, age, and the requested ethnicities for the last five years are provided in the attached tables.The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for a wide range of offences, including breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order in the ‘Outcomes by Offences data tool’, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.However, it is not possible to state what proportion of orders are breached, as the data does not track individuals who were issued a Criminal Behaviour Order and then subsequently breached the order – they are recorded separately.Policy responsibility for Criminal Behaviour Orders is a matter for the Home Office.

What the value is of the Prison Education Service Core Education contracts between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026.

The Prison Education Budget has not been reduced but increased costs mean that many prisons will experience a reduction in core-contract provision.The value of the Prisoner Education Framework contracts between 01 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 was £138 million. We are unable to provide a set contract value for the period 01 October 2025 – 30 September 2026 as this period spans two contract years. Comparisons between individual service budgets year on year are not straightforward due to changes in contract structure and delivery arrangements. Additionally, the overall prison education budget includes a range of services beyond core education and the Prison Education Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), such as libraries, higher education and further education and Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG).The CIAG contract value for financial year 2025-26 is £9.3 million.We have set out the previous five years’ DPS budgets below:Financial Year DPS Budget Notes 2021-22£22.3mThis is a combined total for DPS and CIAG.2022-23£14.1mThese figures represent the total spent by Prison Governors on DPS without CIAG.2023-24£13.9m2024-25£12.7m2025-26£12.0mThis excludes the budget for the national CIAG service launched 01 April 2025.

How many criminal behaviour orders have been issued to (a) White British, (b) Asian, (c) Black, (d) Chinese, (e) Arab and (f) other ethnic group offenders in each of the last five years.

The number of Criminal Behaviour Orders issued broken down by local justice area, police force area, sex, age, and the requested ethnicities for the last five years are provided in the attached tables.The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for a wide range of offences, including breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order in the ‘Outcomes by Offences data tool’, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.However, it is not possible to state what proportion of orders are breached, as the data does not track individuals who were issued a Criminal Behaviour Order and then subsequently breached the order – they are recorded separately.Policy responsibility for Criminal Behaviour Orders is a matter for the Home Office.

How many criminal behaviour orders have been issued to offenders in (a) under 18, (b) 18-24, (c) 25-34, (d) 35-44, (e) 45-54 and (f) 55+ age groups in each of the last five years.

The number of Criminal Behaviour Orders issued broken down by local justice area, police force area, sex, age, and the requested ethnicities for the last five years are provided in the attached tables.The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for a wide range of offences, including breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order in the ‘Outcomes by Offences data tool’, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.However, it is not possible to state what proportion of orders are breached, as the data does not track individuals who were issued a Criminal Behaviour Order and then subsequently breached the order – they are recorded separately.Policy responsibility for Criminal Behaviour Orders is a matter for the Home Office.

How many criminal behaviour orders have been issued to (a) male and (b) female offenders in each of the last five years.

The number of Criminal Behaviour Orders issued broken down by local justice area, police force area, sex, age, and the requested ethnicities for the last five years are provided in the attached tables.The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for a wide range of offences, including breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order in the ‘Outcomes by Offences data tool’, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.However, it is not possible to state what proportion of orders are breached, as the data does not track individuals who were issued a Criminal Behaviour Order and then subsequently breached the order – they are recorded separately.Policy responsibility for Criminal Behaviour Orders is a matter for the Home Office.

How many breaches of Criminal Behaviour Orders have been recorded in each of the last five years, by (a) age group, (b) gender and (c) ethnicity of the offender.

The number of Criminal Behaviour Orders issued broken down by local justice area, police force area, sex, age, and the requested ethnicities for the last five years are provided in the attached tables.The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for a wide range of offences, including breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order in the ‘Outcomes by Offences data tool’, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.However, it is not possible to state what proportion of orders are breached, as the data does not track individuals who were issued a Criminal Behaviour Order and then subsequently breached the order – they are recorded separately.Policy responsibility for Criminal Behaviour Orders is a matter for the Home Office.

How many (a) ongoing work items, (b) unallocated cases and queries, (c) cases and queries allocated but not yet in progress and (d) cases and queries in progress but not yet completed were (i) being dealt with and (ii) still to be dealt with by MyCSP on 1 September 2025.

MyCSP, the Civil Service pension scheme administrator, does not record the data in the format requested. It reports to the Cabinet Office on a monthly basis. As at 31 August 2025, 73,725 new work items were received in August. A work item reflects an individual piece of work or task. There are 46,983 outstanding items - 9,950 cases awaiting a response and 37,033 items assigned for work to be completed. The outstanding volumes are in line with what we would expect to see based on the differing clearance targets for certain tasks, such as retirements which can take up to 4 months to process. This is what the Cabinet Office expects to see and monitors on a monthly basis. The Cabinet Office continues to emphasise to MyCSP the importance of meeting contractual performance levels and improving member experience.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 67736 on Recycling, whether it remains her Department's plan to publish the Circular Economy Strategy for England in the autumn.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming months.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she expects detained British national Alaa Abd el-Fattah to be released.

Alaa Abd El-Fattah was released from prison on 23 September 2025, following a Presidential pardon.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will have discussions with her Moroccan counterpart on (a) the coastal development projects that entail large-scale land acquisition, (b) the destruction of private property and (c) the displacement of Saharawi.

The UK is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, including in Morocco, and consistently urges all states to uphold international law and international human rights standards. In this context, the UK encourages Morocco to ensure that all projects are implemented in a way that respects the rights of local communities. Regarding activities by UK companies operating, or considering operating, overseas, the UK promotes responsible corporate behaviour. This includes respect for the human rights of the people involved in or affected by their operations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to her Moroccan counterpart on the restrictions on Saharawis’ rights to freedom of (a) expression, (b) association and (c) peaceful assembly.

The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law, and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process regarding Western Sahara. We have supported language in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions that encourages the parties to continue their efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara, including the freedoms of expression and association. The UK also shares a bilateral Human Rights Dialogue with Morocco, the third session of which is due to take place in London by the end of the year and will cover a range of topics.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the level of taxation paid by the gambling industry.

The government committed in its manifesto to reducing gambling-related harms, but addressing harm is not the primary purpose of the gambling duty system. Nevertheless, we will remain mindful of any potential impact on problem gamblers in the event we make any change to gambling taxes following the recently closed consultation.

With reference to the report from the Child Poverty Action Group entitled 'Two-child limit statistics briefing', published on 10 July 2025, what steps she is taking to lift children out of poverty.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child. The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in autumn that will deliver fully funded measures to tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty. The Taskforce will continue to explore all available levers to drive forward short and long-term action across government to reduce child poverty. The Strategy will tackle overall child poverty as well as going beyond that to focus on children in deepest poverty lacking essentials, and what is needed to give every child the best start in life. As a significant downpayment ahead of Strategy publication, we have already taken substantive action across major drivers of child poverty through Spending Review 2025. This includes an expansion of Free School Meals that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament. We are also establishing a long-term Crisis and Resilience Fund supported by £1 billion a year (including Barnett impact), investing in local family support services, and extending the £3 bus fare cap. We also announced the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation and £13.2 billion including Barnett impact across the Parliament for the Warm Homes Plan. We’ve also committed to rolling out Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority by April 2026 and creating up to 1,000 hubs across the country by the end of 2028. Backed by £500m funding, this vital support will relieve pressure on parents and give half a million more children the very best start in life. And last month, we confirmed funding of £600m for the Holiday Activities and Food programme for the next three years, ensuring that children and young people can continue to benefit from enriching experiences and nutritious meals during the school holidays. These commitments come on top of the existing action we have taken which includes expanding free breakfast clubs, capping the number of branded school uniform items children are expected to wear, increasing the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.