Written questions by Haigh.

How many staff are allocated to processing Access to Work applications; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of that number.

The current number of case managers allocated to processing Access to Work applications is 307.7 full-time equivalent (FTE). We are committed to reducing waiting times for Access to Work. We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work claims by 27% and applications from customers who are about to start a job or who are renewing are prioritised. The Green Paper launched a consultation on the future of Access to Work which has now concluded. We are considering responses to the consultation and will set out our plans in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure Access to Work applications are processed within a reasonable timeframe.

We are committed to reducing waiting times for Access to Work. We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work claims by 27% and applications from customers who are about to start a job or who are renewing are prioritised. The Green Paper launched a consultation which has now concluded. We are considering responses to the consultation and will set out our plans in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of offering entry to members of the Russian Anti-War Committee.

There are currently no plans to introduce a bespoke route for members of the Russian Anti-War Committee to enter the UK.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will condemn recent comments made by the Kremlin on (a) Mikhail Khodorkovsky and (b) other dissident pro-democratic Russians, in the context of the formal platform of engagement with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Government condemns the continued deterioration in the Kremlin's dire domestic human rights record and its use of repressive legislation to crush political opposition, repress anti-war voices and maintain a climate of fear. We regularly use multilateral fora to highlight the Russian authorities' human rights violations and hold them accountable. For example on 7 October the UK co-sponsored a resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council urging the Russian authorities to uphold fundamental freedoms and renewing the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) engages a wide range of Russian civil society figures. The FCDO, Home Office, operational partners and other government departments work closely to ensure UK residents are safe and secure.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to open a formal dialogue with the Russian Antiwar Committee.

The Government condemns the continued deterioration in the Kremlin's dire domestic human rights record and its use of repressive legislation to crush political opposition, repress anti-war voices and maintain a climate of fear. We regularly use multilateral fora to highlight the Russian authorities' human rights violations and hold them accountable. For example on 7 October the UK co-sponsored a resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council urging the Russian authorities to uphold fundamental freedoms and renewing the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) engages a wide range of Russian civil society figures. The FCDO, Home Office, operational partners and other government departments work closely to ensure UK residents are safe and secure.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to offer support to members of the Russian Anti-War Committee living in the UK.

The Government condemns the continued deterioration in the Kremlin's dire domestic human rights record and its use of repressive legislation to crush political opposition, repress anti-war voices and maintain a climate of fear. We regularly use multilateral fora to highlight the Russian authorities' human rights violations and hold them accountable. For example on 7 October the UK co-sponsored a resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council urging the Russian authorities to uphold fundamental freedoms and renewing the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) engages a wide range of Russian civil society figures. The FCDO, Home Office, operational partners and other government departments work closely to ensure UK residents are safe and secure.

Whether his Department holds information on whether offenders sentenced for sexual offences against children under 13 are the parents of minor children; and if he will make it his policy to publish such data.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on sentences for sexual offences, including average custodial sentence lengths, in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK It is not possible to identify those who have a parental responsibility status. This information may be held in court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs.

How many offenders with parental responsibility for a minor child have received a custodial sentence of over four years in each year since 2017 for a sexual offence against (a) their own child and (b) any child.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on sentences for sexual offences, including average custodial sentence lengths, in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK It is not possible to identify those who have a parental responsibility status. This information may be held in court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs.

If his Department will publish data on (a) the parental responsibility status of offenders sentenced for sexual offences against children under 13 and (b) the number of such offenders who were sentenced to more than four years in custody in each year since 2017.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on sentences for sexual offences, including average custodial sentence lengths, in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK It is not possible to identify those who have a parental responsibility status. This information may be held in court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs.

Whether his Department holds data on the number of offenders sentenced to more than four years’ custody for sexual offences against children, broken down by whether the victim was (a) their own child and (b) another child in each year since 2017.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on sentences for sexual offences, including average custodial sentence lengths, in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK It is not possible to identify those who have a parental responsibility status. This information may be held in court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the campaign for the (a) protection and (b) resettlement of high-profile creative artists in Afghanistan with links to the UK.

The UK has a proud history of providing protection for those fleeing war and persecution through our safe and legal routes. Since 2021, we have resettled over 34,500 individuals through the UK’s Afghan schemes.Given the scale of global displacement, it is unfortunately not possible to offer a pathway to the UK for every person who needs it. The UK’s Afghan schemes were never intended to operate indefinitely, and, on 1 July 2025, the Government announced the closure of the schemes.Afghans wishing to settle in the UK may apply through existing safe and legal routes for work, study and settlement.

Whether she plans to establish a relocation scheme for high-profile creative artists in Afghanistan with links to the UK facing (a) imprisonment, (b) torture and (c) death.

The UK has a proud history of providing protection for those fleeing war and persecution through our safe and legal routes. Since 2021, we have resettled over 34,500 individuals through the UK’s Afghan schemes.Given the scale of global displacement, it is unfortunately not possible to offer a pathway to the UK for every person who needs it. The UK’s Afghan schemes were never intended to operate indefinitely, and, on 1 July 2025, the Government announced the closure of the schemes.Afghans wishing to settle in the UK may apply through existing safe and legal routes for work, study and settlement.

What steps she is taking to ensure that immigration rules do not prevent the relocation to the UK of high-profile creative artists in Afghanistan with links to the UK at risk under the Taliban.

The UK has a proud history of providing protection for those fleeing war and persecution through our safe and legal routes. Since 2021, we have resettled over 34,500 individuals through the UK’s Afghan schemes.Given the scale of global displacement, it is unfortunately not possible to offer a pathway to the UK for every person who needs it. The UK’s Afghan schemes were never intended to operate indefinitely, and, on 1 July 2025, the Government announced the closure of the schemes.Afghans wishing to settle in the UK may apply through existing safe and legal routes for work, study and settlement.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that police forces implement changes in practice following Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel findings.

Keeping children safe is a priority for this Government and we are committed to implementing improvements in practice, including through introducing multi-agency child protection teams in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.The new National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection launched in April 2025 will improve the police response to child protection and we will also deliver a cross-government strategy as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

What steps his Department is taking with Acas under the Prevent strand of its 2025–30 strategy to ensure that employers do not issue non-disclosure agreements in cases of (a) harassment and (b) discrimination.

Clause 24 of the Government’s Employment Rights Bill will void any agreement, such as a contract of employment or settlement agreement, between a worker and their employer that prevents a worker from speaking out about relevant harassment or discrimination. These agreements are often referred to as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The Government will work with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) on updates to its guidance on NDAs to ensure that workers and employers understand the changes to the law when they come into force.

What steps he is taking with Acas under the new Resolve and Manage priorities in its 2025–30 strategy to help support victims of harassment and discrimination following the planned introduction of the ban on non-disclosure agreements.

Clause 24 of the Government’s Employment Rights Bill will void any agreement, such as a contract of employment or settlement agreement, between a worker and their employer that prevents a worker from speaking out about relevant harassment or discrimination. These agreements are often referred to as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The Government will work with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) on updates to its guidance on NDAs to ensure that workers and employers understand the changes to the law when they come into force.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions (a) he and (b) his Department has had with (a) health, (b) environment, (c) energy, (d) film, (e) education, (f) business and (g) transport regulators on the impact of AI technology on their areas of regulation.

Please refer to the answer the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology gave on 14 July to Question 66210.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the Antisemitism Policy Trust entitled Antisemitism Goes Viral, published on 19 December 2024.

The Government condemns all forms of hate crime, including antisemitism, and recognises the serious concerns raised in the Antisemitism Policy Trust’s report about the prevalence of antisemitic abuse online.We are committed to ensuring that users can engage online without fear of harassment or abuse. Since publication of this report, the illegal safety duties under the Online Safety Act have come into force, Online platforms and search services need to prioritise tackling hateful content under their new duties, subject to Ofcom’s regulatory oversight.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the UNESCO entitled AI and the Holocaust: rewriting history, published on 18 June 2024.

The Government welcomes the publication of this report, which explores both the challenges and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Holocaust remembrance and education.We remain committed to working internationally on both developing safe, secure, and responsible AI and promoting education, remembrance and research about the Holocaust. We must continue to stand against Holocaust distortion in all its forms, including AI-facilitated distortion.AI was a focus area of the UK's recent presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, held from March 2024 to February 2025. In October 2024, our presidency co-sponsored an event with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Romania to consider how AI could improve Holocaust education and identify and tackle instances of antisemitism and Holocaust distortion online.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with regulators on the future application of AI.

Please refer to the answer the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology gave on 14 July to Question 66210.