Written questions by Trott.

What estimate she has made of how much the increase to employers National Insurance contributions will cost universities.

The department is aware that higher education (HE) providers will have to pay increased National Insurance contributions. As my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in the Autumn Budget 2024, raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions. That is why the government has asked employers to contribute more.The Office for Students (OfS) is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the financial sustainability of the HE sector. The OfS has made its own estimate of the impacts in their update published on 15 November 2024. This update is available here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/s32lw2vq/financial-sustainability-of-higher-education-providers-in-england-november-2024-update.pdf.It is clear that the UK needs to put its world-leading HE sector on a secure footing in order to face the challenges of the next decade and ensure that all students have confidence they will receive the world-class HE experience they deserve. In line with this approach, from August 2025, the government will be increasing the maximum cap for tuition fees by 3.1%, in line with forecast inflation.The government recognises the impact the cost of living crisis has had on students and is also increasing the maximum loans for living costs for the 2025/26 academic year by 3.1%, to ensure that more support is targeted at students from the lowest income families. The department plans to publish an assessment of impacts of the planned tuition fee and student finance changes shortly.The department expects the HE sector to demonstrate that, in return for the increased investment that students are being asked to make, they deliver the very best outcomes both for those students and for the country. We are calling for providers to go further and play a stronger role in expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantaged students.The department knows how vital securing a sustainable future for the HE sector is for the success of students. We will set out our longer-term plans for HE reform by next summer.

What her planned timetable is for publishing the recommendations of the Curriculum and Assessment review.

The timetable for the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review may be found in the terms of reference available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d196b7d107658faec7e3db/Curriculum_and_assessment_review_-_aims_terms_of_reference_and_working_principles.pdf.

What assessment she has made of the impact of increasing employers National Insurance contributions on childcare costs for working parents.

I refer the right hon. Member for Sevenoaks to the answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12804.

What estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the judicial review of her decision to pause the implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act.

I refer the hon. Member for Sevenoaks to the answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13264.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on universities.

The department is aware that higher education (HE) providers will have to pay increased National Insurance contributions. As my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in the Autumn Budget 2024, raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions. That is why the government has asked employers to contribute more.The Office for Students (OfS) is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the financial sustainability of the HE sector. The OfS has made its own estimate of the impacts in their update published on 15 November 2024. This update is available here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/s32lw2vq/financial-sustainability-of-higher-education-providers-in-england-november-2024-update.pdf.It is clear that the UK needs to put its world-leading HE sector on a secure footing in order to face the challenges of the next decade and ensure that all students have confidence they will receive the world-class HE experience they deserve. In line with this approach, from August 2025, the government will be increasing the maximum cap for tuition fees by 3.1%, in line with forecast inflation.The government recognises the impact the cost of living crisis has had on students and is also increasing the maximum loans for living costs for the 2025/26 academic year by 3.1%, to ensure that more support is targeted at students from the lowest income families. The department plans to publish an assessment of impacts of the planned tuition fee and student finance changes shortly.The department expects the HE sector to demonstrate that, in return for the increased investment that students are being asked to make, they deliver the very best outcomes both for those students and for the country. We are calling for providers to go further and play a stronger role in expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantaged students.The department knows how vital securing a sustainable future for the HE sector is for the success of students. We will set out our longer-term plans for HE reform by next summer.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2024 to Question 9707 on Tax Avoidance, when she will provide an update on her policy on the Loan Charge.

The government announced at Autumn Budget that it will commission an independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. Further details about the review will be set out in due course.

With reference to the Written Statement of 22 October 2024 on Mainstream Free Schools, UIN HCWS150, if the proposed new special educational needs school in Swanley is one of the schools to have their funding reviewed.

The department is reviewing mainstream free school projects, to ensure that they continue to meet localised need for places, offer value for money and are not to the detriment of the other schools in the local area. The review covers mainstream, centrally delivered projects.Work on special and alternative provision (AP) free schools is continuing. As with all government investment, special and AP free school projects will be subject to value for money consideration through their development, in line with the government’s vision for the special educational needs system.

Whether she plans to introduce a criminal offence to prosecute individuals who create sexually explicit deepfakes.

This Government refuses to tolerate violence against women and girls, which is why our manifesto included a commitment to ban the creation of degrading and harmful sexually explicit deepfakes.We are looking at options to deliver this manifesto commitment as effectively as possible.

Whether he plans to respond to the consultation entitled The licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England which closed on 2 September 2023.

The Government is currently considering what steps may need to be taken in relation to the safety of the non-surgical cosmetics sector. The Government will set out its position at the earliest opportunity.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Chapter 12, Paragraph 7, of her Department's consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, updated on 24 September 2024, what her planned timetable is for making that funding available to councils; and if she will meet any additional costs.

Subject to the outcome of the consultation in question, further details on funding to enable eligible local authorities to progress their plans to examination quickly will be provided in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for publishing the revised National Planning Policy Framework.

The Government intends to respond to the consultation and publish revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework before the end of the year.

What meetings Ian Corfeld has held with businesses since his appointment as an unpaid adviser.

This information is not centrally collated.

With reference to Table 2, page 9, footnote 2 of his Department's report entitled Fixing the foundations: Public spending audit 2024-25, published in July 2024, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people that will receive Pension Credit over (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

Fixing the Foundations showed Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) Winter Fuel Payments (WFP) savings of £1.4bn, for 2024/2025, for Great Britain. These included an assumption about increased take-up of Pension Credit which is in line with the highest levels it has achieved historically. Final savings will be certified and published by the Office for Budget Responsibility at the Autumn Budget on the 30th October, taking account of any behavioural response and associated impact on the estimated number of people who will receive Pension Credit in upcoming years.

Who line-manages the Director of Special Advisers and Chancellor Engagement.

The Director of Special Advisers and Chancellor Engagement is managed by the Second Permanent Secretary.

If she will publish (a) an organogram of the Private Office Group in her Department and a (b) breakdown by grade of the staff in that group.

Within private offices, the Director of Special Advisers and Chancellor Engagement is an SCS pay band 2. All other Treasury staff in private offices are at Deputy Director or below and we do not comment on individual roles and appointments at this level.

What the civil service grade is of the Director of Investment.

There is no member of HM Treasury staff with the job title Director of Investment.

Whether Ian Corfield (a) has had and (b) has a Downing Street pass.

I refer the Rt Hon Members to the answer given by the then Prime Minister on 7 February 2017, Official Report, PQ 62542.Following the practice followed by past administrations, the Government does not comment on security matters.