Written questions by Wrigley.

Whether she plans to make additional increases in (a) funding and (b) placements for special schools in Devon .

Following the Autumn Budget 2024, the department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Devon County Council is being allocated over £125 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £8.9 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula (NFF). This NFF allocation is a 7.7% increase per head of their 2 to 18-year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.Additionally, we have announced £740 million of capital for high needs funding in 2025/26. This can be used to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings. It can also be used to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings. We will confirm allocations for the £740 million funding later in the spring.Regarding special school places, in 2023 the department for the first time collected data from local authorities on capacity in special schools, SEND units and resourced provision in mainstream schools. This data is published at local authority level in the annual school capacity publication, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity. The latest available data shows that, as at 1 May 2023, there were approximately 1,830 special school places and 86 SEN Unit and resourced provision places in mainstream schools in Devon.The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places, including for pupils SEND, sits with local authorities. The department supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with SEND through annual high needs capital funding.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the number of special school places available in Devon.

Following the Autumn Budget 2024, the department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Devon County Council is being allocated over £125 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £8.9 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula (NFF). This NFF allocation is a 7.7% increase per head of their 2 to 18-year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.Additionally, we have announced £740 million of capital for high needs funding in 2025/26. This can be used to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings. It can also be used to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings. We will confirm allocations for the £740 million funding later in the spring.Regarding special school places, in 2023 the department for the first time collected data from local authorities on capacity in special schools, SEND units and resourced provision in mainstream schools. This data is published at local authority level in the annual school capacity publication, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity. The latest available data shows that, as at 1 May 2023, there were approximately 1,830 special school places and 86 SEN Unit and resourced provision places in mainstream schools in Devon.The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places, including for pupils SEND, sits with local authorities. The department supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with SEND through annual high needs capital funding.

If she will offer indefinite right to remain for Ukrainians on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

The Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme opened to applications on 4 February 2025, which enables Ukrainians in the UK under the Ukraine visa schemes to apply for a further 18 months’ temporary permission to remain in the UK.We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine to assist in the rebuilding of the country. It is important our approach respects these wishes.This is why the temporary sanctuary Ukraine visa Schemes do not lead to settlement in the UK.There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.

If she will publish the waiting times for (a) SEND assessments, (b) EHCP packages, (c) places at SEND schools and (d) total SEND provision in Devon.

Where a request is made, a local authority must decide within a statutory six-week deadline, unless exceptions apply, whether to conduct an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment for a child or young person. Where appropriate, the local authority must then draw up a plan which names a setting within a statutory twenty-week deadline, unless exceptions apply. In some circumstances the local authority will name a special school on an EHC plan and the school must then admit the pupil. This is the usual way in which a pupil gets a place at such a school.Information relating to the time between the date of a request for an assessment and the date of an assessment outcome at local authority level was released in the answer of 29 July 2024 to Question 2202.The department publishes official statistics on EHC plans annually here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans. This includes data at local authority level on the rate of EHC plans issued within the statutory deadline of twenty weeks.The department does not collect information on waiting times for placements for specialist provision.

What additional SEND (a) funding and (b) assistance has been made available for Devon since 5 July 2024.

As announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, the department is providing an additional £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Devon County Council is being allocated over £125 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG). This represents an increase of £8.9 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula (NFF). This NFF allocation is an increase of 7.7% per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, against their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in relation to the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. The CSBG, alongside other separate grants payable this year, are designed to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases, as well as other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.The department has also been working closely with all statutory partners involved in delivering SEND services in Devon since their local area SEND inspection in May 2022, which found that insufficient progress had been made against the four areas of significant weakness identified during their previous inspection in December 2018.In response to these findings, the department issued an Improvement Notice in September 2022, and an Accelerated Progress Plan was developed with the local authority and integrated care board. In addition, the department and NHS England have both deployed SEND advisers to assist the local area and to offer advice and support.As part of the department’s intervention, there are robust monitoring arrangements in place. The department is holding regular formal monitoring meetings with the local authority and partners to hold the local area to account for making the necessary improvements in services and to consider what further support can be provided as part of our SEND intervention in Devon.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has now also announced £740 million for high needs capital funding in 2025/26 to support children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision.This new funding can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND and create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs, alongside continuing to provide places to support pupils in special schools with the most complex needs.We will confirm plans to allocate funding for the 2025/26 financial year later in the spring.

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of assessment times for (a) ADHD, (b) autism and (c) Tourette's syndrome in Devon.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access to assessments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and Tourette’s syndrome, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance where available.Devon ICB advises it is working with local partners as part of One Devon to implement an integrated neurodiversity assessment pathway to reduce the complexity for families and schools seeking assessment. One Devon is also conducting work focused on autism waiting times recovery.Nationally, NHS England has published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people, and adults referred to an autism assessment service. NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which will make recommendations about how to address the challenges faced by those affected by ADHD.

What steps her Department plans to take to increase (a) salaries for and (b) retention of teaching assistants in Devon.

This government values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce, which is why we are reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) through the Employment Rights Bill, introduced in Parliament on 10 October 2024.The SSSNB will mean that employers and employee representatives come together to negotiate terms and conditions and pay for school support staff, to ensure that support staff are properly recognised and rewarded for the work they do. The SSSNB will also be tasked with establishing a national terms and conditions handbook and advising on suitable training and career progression routes that recognise the varied and vital roles support staff undertake.The SSSNB will help address the recruitment and retention challenges state-funded schools are facing for support staff. This in turn will support work to drive high and rising standards in schools and ensure we give children the best possible life chances.To support schools with overall costs, this government committed to providing almost £1.1 billion in additional funding in the 2024/25 financial year. Further to this, at the Autumn Budget 2024 the government announced an additional £2.3 billion for mainstream schools and children and young people with high needs for 2025/26, compared to 2024/25.Most school support staff, including teaching assistants, are currently employed on National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services pay and conditions. The NJC is a negotiating body made up of representatives from trade unions and local government employers. Local government employees covered by the NJC for local government services pay and conditions were offered a flat cash uplift of £1,290 from 1 April 2024. In October 2024 an agreement was reached on the 2024/25 pay award for these employees, which covers the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.Teaching assistants (TAs) play a vital role in children’s education. There are 282,925 full-time equivalent TAs in state-funded schools in England – up by approximately 1,800 since last year. The number of TAs has increased year on year since 2017/18.

If she will provide wage support to the lowest paid teaching (a) staff and (b) assistants in SEND schools in Devon.

This government values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce, which is why we are reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) through the Employment Rights Bill, introduced in Parliament on 10 October 2024.The SSSNB will mean that employers and employee representatives come together to negotiate terms and conditions and pay for school support staff, to ensure that support staff are properly recognised and rewarded for the work they do. The SSSNB will also be tasked with establishing a national terms and conditions handbook and advising on suitable training and career progression routes that recognise the varied and vital roles support staff undertake.The SSSNB will help address the recruitment and retention challenges state-funded schools are facing for support staff. This in turn will support work to drive high and rising standards in schools and ensure we give children the best possible life chances.To support schools with overall costs, this government committed to providing almost £1.1 billion in additional funding in the 2024/25 financial year. Further to this, at the Autumn Budget 2024 the government announced an additional £2.3 billion for mainstream schools and children and young people with high needs for 2025/26, compared to 2024/25.Most school support staff, including teaching assistants, are currently employed on National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services pay and conditions. The NJC is a negotiating body made up of representatives from trade unions and local government employers. Local government employees covered by the NJC for local government services pay and conditions were offered a flat cash uplift of £1,290 from 1 April 2024. In October 2024 an agreement was reached on the 2024/25 pay award for these employees, which covers the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.Teaching assistants (TAs) play a vital role in children’s education. There are 282,925 full-time equivalent TAs in state-funded schools in England – up by approximately 1,800 since last year. The number of TAs has increased year on year since 2017/18.

If he will take steps to divest from defence procurement from the US.

This Government is committed to improving the UK defence industrial base to ensure a robust defence sector, support economic growth and provide greater certainty in procurement processes.The United States is the United Kingdom's primary defence and security ally. Our collaboration in defence is mutually beneficial, and we maintain robust working partnerships in the areas of intelligence, nuclear, science and technology, and operations.The UK and US share a strong economic relationship that is equitable, balanced, and reciprocal. With $1.5 trillion invested in each other's economies and supporting over 2.5 million jobs collectively, our economic ties are significant.

What proportion of the UK defence budget is spent on the procurement of (a) items and (b) services from the US.

This information is not held in the format requested.

With reference to comments by President Trump on support for Ukraine, whether he is taking steps to re-allocate funding to domestic (a) procurement, (b) services and (c) other defence expenditure.

The United States is the United Kingdom's primary defence and security ally. Our collaboration in defence is mutually beneficial, and we maintain robust working partnerships in the areas of intelligence, nuclear, science and technology, and operations.The defence sector plays a vital role not only in our national security but also to the prosperity and economic growth of the UK. That is why we are bringing forwards a Defence Industrial Strategy that will review the consideration of sovereign capability and capacity and will align our security and economic priorities.We are determined to achieve a secure, lasting peace in Ukraine, which means putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position to prevent any return to Russian aggression. Since July 2024, the Government has provided over £5.26 billion in military aid and financial support to Ukraine, including a £3 billion annual military aid and a £2.26 billion loan for military spending.

If his Department will publish a breakdown of projected defence spending on US (a) goods, (b) services and (c) land rents in the next five years.

This information is not held in the format requested.

How much the (a) UK pays the US and (b) US pays the UK in defence-related expenditure each year.

The Department routinely publishes its regional spend with industry, including North America. In financial year 2023-24 the Department's defence related expenditure with North America was £2.48 billion, of which £2.38 billion was for work taking place in the US. This is just one example of the special relationship between the UK and the US on Defence.US defence-related expenditure with the UK is not captured centrally and cannot be provided.

What munitions the UK sources (a) directly and (b) via supply chains from the United States.

The UK’s munitions stockpile is maintained through the procurement of new rounds and the refurbishment or upgrading of existing munitions. Many types of in-service munitions are from UK suppliers, and many components of systems procured from overseas are manufactured in the UK. Munitions procured directly through the United States through Foreign Military Sale include complex weapons such as cruise missiles, anti-armour and anti-air weaponry. Munitions procured by the Ministry of Defence from the United States via supply chains through other contractual arrangements include Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rounds, an Extended Range variant of GMLRS rounds, a range of small arms ammunition and explosive charges, and the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to establish new offshore Marine Protected Areas.

In January 2025, Minister Hardy tabled a Written Statement committing to designating new Marine Protected Areas and/or extending existing Marine Protected Areas in Secretary of State waters to deliver strategic environmental compensation for unavoidable damage caused by offshore wind developments to seabed habitats. The location of these Marine Protected Areas is not yet known but some may be in the offshore area. There is a comprehensive legislative process required to designate Marine Protected Areas which includes gathering evidence through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Natural England, and consulting with affected industries and communities before taking designation decisions. We will work closely and openly with stakeholders throughout this process.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential merits of holding a public consultation prior to the passing of the 2022 Private Parking Code of Practice.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. This includes a duty to consult with relevant stakeholders on the measures within this Code. This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector and will announce its plans for the new Code and related consultation in due course.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to (a) the minimum wage and (b) employer National Insurance contributions on the ability of companies to hire workers for long term skills investment.

We are committed to building an economy that works for everyone and considers the impacts of all policies that we introduce.We accepted in full the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission who considered the impact on business, competitiveness, the labour market, wider economy and the cost of living. A full Impact Assessment on NMW was published and received a Green ‘fit for purpose’ from the Regulatory Policy Committee on Tuesday 4 February 2025.The Office for Budget Responsibility’s October 2024 forecast includes the impact to changing employer National Insurance contributions and expects the unemployment rate will fall to 4.1% next year and remain low until 2029. Employers of those under the age of 21 and apprentices under the age of 25 receive 100% employer National Insurance relief on salaries up to £50,270.

If his Department will fully implement the findings of the Etherton Review.

The Government accepts the intent behind all of Lord Etherton’s recommendations and Defence continues to work at pace to deliver them. As of 4 March 2025, 42 of the 49 recommendations have been implemented, with work to implement the outstanding seven recommendations underway, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the LGBT veteran community. Out of the seven remaining recommendations, two are for Defence and five are for Department of Health and Social Care. The two for Defence include recommendation 44 focusing on female veterans affected by the ban; this will be implemented as part of the new inclusive veterans’ strategy. Recommendation 17 to implement a dedicated memorial to LGBT personnel at the National Memorial Arboretum; this is expected to be unveiled before the end of the 2025. Defence officials are also supporting Department of Health and Social Care colleagues with progressing their five remaining recommendations (recommendations 31, 35, 36, 38 and 42), which are all for the NHS. Defence encourages those affected to apply for non-financial restorative measures and the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme by completing the application forms available at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lgbt-veterans-support-and-next-steps.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the adoption and special guardianship support fund on families.

Adoption England is committed to improving support for families and is working to ensure every child has an individual adoption support plan at the point of placement, which will identify current and future needs. The adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) provides trauma and attachment support for adoptive children, many of whom will have suffered abuse, neglect and violence before adoption. Previously, the Institute of Public Care (IPC), at Oxford Brookes University carried out a three-year mixed-method evaluation on behalf of the department between 2018 and 2021. Their report can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6391c41a8fa8f53ba783e8ad/Evaluation_of_the_Adoption_Support_Fund_2018_to_2022_-_summary_.pdf. The report found that “a high proportion (83%) parents and guardians participating in the longitudinal survey found the funded support helpful or very helpful overall”. The IPC report also found “a statistically significant (substantial, with large effect size) improvement in parent and guardian estimates of the extent to which the main aim of the funded support had been met by the end of the intervention” and reported that parents and guardians scored on average “7 out of 10 in relation to a question about the extent to which positive change(s) for their child and/or family had been sustained 6 months since the conclusion of ASF-funded support”. The impact of the therapies available within the ASGSF is currently being assessed from multiple angles. The National Institute for Health Research is currently conducting a randomised control trial into Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), one of the main therapies the ASGSF funds. This research is currently in its third and final phase and it will provide robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of DDP. The department started to collect data from outcomes measurement tools for ASGSF-funded therapies in December 2023. As therapy treatment comes to an end, this data will give an overall picture of the impact and adequacy of individual ASGSF-funded therapies.

If she will provide additional support for adopted children impacted by (a) abuse, (b) neglect and (c) violence before adoption.

Adoption England is committed to improving support for families and is working to ensure every child has an individual adoption support plan at the point of placement, which will identify current and future needs. The adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) provides trauma and attachment support for adoptive children, many of whom will have suffered abuse, neglect and violence before adoption. Previously, the Institute of Public Care (IPC), at Oxford Brookes University carried out a three-year mixed-method evaluation on behalf of the department between 2018 and 2021. Their report can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6391c41a8fa8f53ba783e8ad/Evaluation_of_the_Adoption_Support_Fund_2018_to_2022_-_summary_.pdf. The report found that “a high proportion (83%) parents and guardians participating in the longitudinal survey found the funded support helpful or very helpful overall”. The IPC report also found “a statistically significant (substantial, with large effect size) improvement in parent and guardian estimates of the extent to which the main aim of the funded support had been met by the end of the intervention” and reported that parents and guardians scored on average “7 out of 10 in relation to a question about the extent to which positive change(s) for their child and/or family had been sustained 6 months since the conclusion of ASF-funded support”. The impact of the therapies available within the ASGSF is currently being assessed from multiple angles. The National Institute for Health Research is currently conducting a randomised control trial into Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), one of the main therapies the ASGSF funds. This research is currently in its third and final phase and it will provide robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of DDP. The department started to collect data from outcomes measurement tools for ASGSF-funded therapies in December 2023. As therapy treatment comes to an end, this data will give an overall picture of the impact and adequacy of individual ASGSF-funded therapies.