Written questions by Anderson.

Media and Sport, what the total cost was of providing translation services in her Department in the last year.

DCMS does not hold information to the level of detail requested within its finance system or procurement system.

What the total cost was of providing translation services in her Department in the last year.

The total spend on Translation Services by DFT in the last financial year (2023/24) is £74,575.16

What diversity, equality and inclusion targets her Department has for staff recruitment.

The Department welcomes job applications from everyone, irrespective of background, identity, experience, or circumstance, and particularly those underrepresented in our workforce.The Ministry of Justice as a whole does not have diversity staff recruitment targets.HM Prison and Probation Service uses the proportion of people from ethnic minorities in the economically active population, according to the Labour Force Survey, as a comparator when examining the ethnic minority representation of its workforce and recruitment.

What the total cost was of providing translation services in her Department in the last year.

The total cost of providing translation services for financial year 24/25 (April 2024 – Feb 2025) was £2,598,485.36. This figure is representative of the spend by HM Prison and Probation Service under its translation and transcription contract with an external provider.

What the total cost was of providing translation services in his Department in the last year.

This information is not held centrally.

What the total cost was of providing translation services in her Department in the last year.

In the last 12 months the total money spent on interpretation services was £8,496,578.37.

What diversity, equality and inclusion targets her Department has for staff recruitment.

The department has diversity, equality and inclusion targets for Senior Civil Servants from ethnic minority backgrounds (13%) and staff with a disability (12%) only.

What the total cost was of providing legal aid to asylum seekers in the last year.

Expenditure data for asylum seekers across all legal aid schemes is not held centrally.The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) does, however, publish information regarding legal aid expenditure as part of its official statistics on a quarterly basis, including the cost of legal aid provided in respect of asylum matters funded as Controlled Work. That information can be found at column G of table 5.3. Controlled Work covers the provision of legal advice regarding asylum matters and representation before the First Tier (Immigration and Asylum) Tribunal. The LAA also publishes information about the cost of Legal Representation pertaining to immigration and asylum matters (see tables 6.5 and 6.7).

Media and Sport, what diversity, equality and inclusion targets her Department has for staff recruitment.

In line with the wider Civil Service, DCMS does not have recruitment targets for EDI, but is committed to represent the diversity of the UK population.

What the total cost was of providing translation services in her Department in the last year.

The total cost incurred by the department in providing translation services for the period 01/04/2024 to 25/03/2025 is £25,286.79. This is split between £24,820.60 for British sign language and braille support and £318.57 for other translation services.

What the total cost was of providing translation services in his Department in the last year.

We can confirm the Department for Business and Trade spent £53,491.37 on translation services from April 2024 – 25th March 2025.As the department for economic growth, we support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. This figure includes providing translation services and also where the Department required translations or interpreters.

What the total cost was of providing translation services in his Department in the last year.

The Department uses external suppliers to meet its requirements for translation and interpretation services. In the 2024 calendar year, the cost to the Department was £16,833.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the total cost was of providing translation services in his Department in the last year.

The amount of expenditure recorded for translation services in the 2023/24 financial year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March, is £1,699.13.

What the total cost was of providing translation services in her Department in the last year.

The information requested is not centrally held, and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the BBC Board on impartiality in their coverage.

Under its Royal Charter, the BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. This responsibility is particularly important when it comes to coverage of highly sensitive issues. Ofcom, as the BBC’s independent regulator, is responsible for holding the BBC to account on its duties on due impartiality.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the accountability of social media companies on online safety.

The Online Safety Act puts new duties on social media companies and search services, making them responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms.The duties are now coming into effect, with platforms now being required by law to implement measures to reduce the risk of illegal content and activity on their services, with additional protections for children coming this Summer.Ofcom has a range of strong enforcement powers to use if services fail to comply with the Act, including the ability to issue fines, and implement business disruption measures.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect persecuted Christians in Syria.

We are closely monitoring the treatment of all civilians in Syria, including those from the Christian community. In my Statement in Parliament on 10 March, and in the Foreign Secretary's public statement on 9 March, we made clear that the interim authorities must ensure the protection of all Syrians. I raised this with the Syrian Interim Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, on 17 March, we consistently emphasise the need for a Syrian-led political transition that leads to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government.

Whether her Department is taking steps to help protect freedom of speech in the hospitality sector.

Free speech is a cornerstone of British values. The right to freedom of expression is a long-held fundamental right under Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights. The Equality Act 2010 provides protection from discrimination protects people with a religion or philosophical belief from discrimination, as well as to those who lack a religion or belief. The definition of religion or religious or philosophical belief is in line with Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights which stipulates that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It is also compatible with Article 10 which covers the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authorities. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is Great Britain’s national equality and human rights body. The Commission safeguards and enforces the laws that protect people’s rights to fairness, dignity and respect.

What steps he is taking to support veterans in (a) the UK and (b) Ashfield constituency.

This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country, no matter which community they are based in. I am working across Government and with civil society to ensure veterans, including those in Ashfield, get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need.In England Op RESTORE provides specialist care to veterans who have physical health problems, and Op COURAGE, a mental health specialist service helps veterans and their families. Over 1000 veterans have used Op RESTORE to date.Housing support is available across the United Kingdom via Op FORTITUDE, a single referral pathway to connect veterans with help and support. This system provides housing guidance and assistance to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Veterans can also access a range of tailored employment support, including the Career Transition Partnership, which is the initial point of provision for those leaving military Service in search of new job opportunities, and via Op ASCEND, the employment pathway for veterans.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with social media companies on online safety for children.

This year, as platforms start to comply with the duties under the Online Safety Act, the Government has high expectations that there will be a significant change in online experiences for children and Ofcom stands ready to act against services who fall short in protecting users online.Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders, including social media companies, to discuss how we can continue to protect children online. Details of ministerial meetings, including the purpose of meetings, are published quarterly on the gov.uk website.