Written questions by Glindon.

With reference to the Department's publication entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published in March 2025, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the reforms on the service capacity of (a) voluntary and (b) community sector organisations.

No estimate has been made.I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 April 2025 to question number 47657. The answer can be found here: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a fund to support (a) voluntary, (b) community and (c) social enterprise sector organisations to offset increases to National Insurance Contributions.

This government recognises the vital role that charitable organisations and community groups play in providing crucial support to families and individuals across the country. These organisations, as well as the wider Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, are integral to the Government’s vision for national renewal and delivery of the five national missions.DCMS Ministers have met with representatives from the VCSE sector and are aware of their concerns about the National Insurance contributions (NICs) changes. We recognise the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning that more than half of businesses (including charities) with NICs liabilities will either gain or see no change this year.We continue to promote availability of funding for smaller charities in several ways, including delivery of a number of grant schemes, such as the ‘Know Your Neighbourhood Fund’. Support for charities is also available through social investment which provides access to grants, repayable finance and a blend of the two. In particular, this government is continuing to look at how dormant assets can be used to support the availability of finance to facilitate VCSEs becoming more entrepreneurial and financially resilient. An estimated £350 million will flow into the Dormant Assets Scheme between 2024-28, with details on how this money will be distributed to be provided in due course.

What steps she is taking to increase GCSE attainment in (a) maths and (b) English for pupils with free school meals eligibility in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend constituency.

All children and young people should have every opportunity to succeed, no matter who they are or where they are from. However, the department knows that disadvantaged pupils are more likely to face unacceptable barriers that hold them back, which is why the Opportunity Mission will break the unfair link between background and success.High and rising standards are the key to unlocking stronger outcomes for every child and young person, reducing gaps and ensuring they can achieve and thrive.To drive standards in reading and writing, the government has committed £27.7 million in the 2025/26 financial year. This includes new training and resources for secondary school staff to support reading in key stage 3, with a specific focus on readers who are at risk of falling behind.The department also funds a national network of Maths Hubs, supported by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics. This includes the Great North Maths Hub, which covers the Newcastle Upon Tyne East and Wallsend constituency. The network aims to raise the standard of mathematics teaching from reception to age 18, preventing and reducing attainment gaps.On 6 May 2025, the department announced a further £8.2 million for the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme, which includes funding to support 400 schools with high-attaining disadvantaged students to progress to higher grades at GCSE and into level 3 mathematics.Alongside this, we are providing pupil premium funding of over £3 billion in the 2025/26 financial year to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

With reference to the report by The Sutton Trust entitled The Opportunity Index, published in May 2025, what steps she is taking to increase the proportion of free school meal pupils who become 50th percentile earners by age 28 in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend constituency.

Through our work to deliver the Opportunity Mission, the department will break the link between young people’s backgrounds and their future success by tackling the underlying barriers that disadvantaged children face across the country, including in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend.Ensuring all children get the best start in life is how we make the biggest difference to their outcomes. That is why the first goal we have set out in our Plan for Change is for a record proportion of children to be starting school ready to learn. We will deliver this through boosting early family support and increasing access to high quality early years education and childcare for children and families.The quality of teaching is the single most important in-school factor in improving outcomes for children, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. That is why, as one of our first steps for change, the department has committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 new expert teachers across our secondary and special schools and in our colleges over the course of this Parliament.Alongside this, the department is providing over £3 billion of pupil premium funding this year to help raise the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils, supporting them so they can achieve and thrive in education.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of collecting data centrally on average waiting times for access to NHS dentistry.

No assessment has been made. Patients in England are not registered with a National Health Service dental practice, although many NHS dental practices do tend to see patients regularly. There is no geographical restriction on which practice a patient may attend. Some dental practices may operate local waiting list arrangements.The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

What steps he is taking to increase the number of NHS dentistry appointments in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend constituency.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend constituency, this is the NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB. ICBs have been asked to start making extra urgent dental appointments available from April 2025. The North East and North Cumbria ICB is expected to deliver 57,599 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS dental capacity in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend constituency.

Dental Statistics - England 2023/24, published by the NHS Business Services Authority on 22 August 2024, is available at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324The data for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, which includes the Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend constituency, shows that 46% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist in the previous 24 months up to June 2024, compared to 40% in England, and that 59% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 12 months up to June 2024, compared to 56% in England.The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

What steps he is taking to help increase employment rates for doctors who have recently completed foundation training.

Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual National Health Service employers. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care. We will ensure that the number of medical specialty training places meets the demands of the NHS in the future. NHS England will work with stakeholders to ensure that any growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where the need is greatest. To reform the NHS and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of Government’s five long-term missions. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills will be central to this vision.  We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again. The Government committed to recruiting over 1,000 recently qualified general practitioners (GPs) through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) over 2024/25, as part of an initiative to secure the future pipeline of GPs. Data on the number of recently qualified GPs for which primary care networks are claiming reimbursement via the ARRS was published by NHS England on 7 April, showing that since 1 October 2024, 1,503 GPs were recruited through the scheme.

What proportion of registered doctors are unemployed.

The Office for National Statistics published an analysis showing the number of unemployed people by last occupation at the time of the 2021 Census. This estimated that on the census day, there were 2,200 unemployed people whose last profession was either General Medical Practitioner or Specialist Medical Practitioner. This equates to approximately 0.7% of the registered doctors at the time. No more recent estimate is held by the Department. Further information on the 2021 Census is available at the following link:https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/datasets/characteristicsofthosenotinemploymentasofcensusday2021detailedoccupationestimatesWithin weeks of coming into office, we committed to recruiting over 1,000 recently qualified general practitioners (GPs) through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme over 2024/25, as part of an initiative to address GP unemployment and secure the future pipeline of GPs. We have now recruited an extra 1,738 GPs into general practice to deliver more appointments.

What recent discussions she has had with the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman on its planned timetable to publish the report on its special investigation into Medomsley Detention Centre.

I have the deepest sympathy for victims and survivors of abuse suffered at Medomsley Detention Centre. The previous Government, after years of campaigning by victims and survivors, commissioned the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) in October 2023 to undertake a thorough review of the abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre between 1961 and 1987. The investigation commenced in November 2023 and looked into what the authorities knew about the abuse over this period, if there were opportunities for them to take action or intervene, and what action they took.The PPO has now concluded the evidence-gathering phase of the investigation, and we expect the PPO to publish the final report later this year.I continue to be grateful to the PPO for their expertise and independence in conducting a rigorous investigation and I hope this will help us to understand how such horrific events were able to take place.

What steps he is taking to improve the affordability of electric vehicles for low-income households.

The Government offers Plug-in Vehicle Grants for eligible vans, trucks, taxis, motorcycles, and wheelchair accessible vehicles. These grants help to lower upfront vehicle costs and make zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) more accessible to consumers. ZEVs also benefit from favourable tax rates, such as generous company car tax incentives and a 0% Van Benefit Charge. ZEVs also receive preferential first year rates of Vehicle Excise Duty at £10 until FY 2029-30, in comparison to the most polluting vehicles. Most drivers in the UK buy used vehicles, with 80% of all cars bought and sold in 2024 having been through the used vehicle market. Industry intelligence suggests that some EVs on the used market are now similar in price to their petrol and diesel equivalents. The Government will continue to monitor the health of the market and keeps all policies under review.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve the inclusivity of public services for autistic people.

From 1 July 2022, service providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are required to ensure their staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role, as set out in the Health and Care Act 2022. To support this, we are rolling out the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism. Over two million people have now completed the e-learning module, which is the first part of the training.The Government has also committed to raising awareness of all forms of neurodiversity, including autism, in the workplace. An independent panel made of academics with expertise and experiences of neurodiversity, including autism, has been launched to advise the Government on fostering more inclusive workplaces. This will build on the recommendations outlined in the Buckland Review of Autism Employment, which related solely to autism.The Department of Health and Social Care is also working closely with the Department for Education on reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system to improve inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. We are also supporting earlier intervention for children with SEND through the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme. PINS brings together integrated care boards, local authorities, and schools, working in partnership with parents and carers to support schools to better meet the needs of neurodivergent children and their families.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) adult gaming centres and (b) bingo clubs on communities.

The Minister for Gambling met with representatives of Bacta, a trade association which represents the adult gaming centre sector, at the Bingo Association Annual General Meeting on 1 May 2025, where she also met with other representatives from the land-based gambling sector. A further meeting between the Minister for Gambling and Bacta is scheduled in May 2025. The Minister has held several other meetings with representatives from the land-based gambling sector.The Government recognises the contributions that adult gaming centres and bingo clubs make to communities, including providing local employment and spaces where people can have fun and socialise. We will continue to work with the land-based gambling sector to mitigate the risks of gambling-related harm and strengthen player protections in venues.

Media and Sport, what recent meetings she has held with the land based adult gaming sector.

The Minister for Gambling met with representatives of Bacta, a trade association which represents the adult gaming centre sector, at the Bingo Association Annual General Meeting on 1 May 2025, where she also met with other representatives from the land-based gambling sector. A further meeting between the Minister for Gambling and Bacta is scheduled in May 2025. The Minister has held several other meetings with representatives from the land-based gambling sector.The Government recognises the contributions that adult gaming centres and bingo clubs make to communities, including providing local employment and spaces where people can have fun and socialise. We will continue to work with the land-based gambling sector to mitigate the risks of gambling-related harm and strengthen player protections in venues.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of encouraging local authorities to adopt the HAF Plus model of delivering the Holiday Activities and Food programme for 13-16 year olds.

The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme supports disadvantaged children and their families during the school holidays, offering enriching activities and healthy food to support their health, development and wellbeing. The department was very pleased to be able to make available more than £200 million for the HAF programme in 2025/26. Delivery across England has already taken place at Easter, with the summer and Christmas holidays to come.HAF Plus has been adopted by several local authorities as a model for older children, following successful pilots. Through the department’s annual guidance to local authorities who coordinate the programme across England, we encourage flexibility to offer suitable models to older children, with careful consideration given to a different model of food and activity provision. We also strongly encourage consideration of the role that older children can have in supporting, designing and leading sessions for their peers or for younger children, in order to help them to socialise and develop leadership skills, which can be crucial for those in year 9 to 11.

With reference to her Department's publication entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published in March 2025, what role the (a) voluntary and (b) community sector will have in implementing those reforms.

We strongly value the input of disabled people and people with health conditions, in addition to representative organisations that support them, and that is why we have brought forward this Green Paper and the consultation.The consultation welcomes the views of voluntary organisations, and we hope many will respond before the consultation closes on the 30 June 2025. Our programme of accessible public events will further facilitate input, including in-person and online, and will help us hear from disabled people and representative organisations directly.We are also exploring other ways to facilitate the involvement of stakeholders in our reforms. In addition to the consultation, we will establish ‘collaboration committees’ that bring groups of people together for specific policy development areas and our wider review of the PIP assessment will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience.As we develop proposals further, we will consider how to best to involve voluntary and community organisations in the planning and implementation of reforms, including in our employment support package.

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on (a) medical student finance and (b) the adequacy of total financial support during NHS Bursary funded years of study.

The Department works closely with the Department for Education on a wide range of matters to ensure the education system is supporting healthcare students, including student funding.For the 2025-26 academic year, the Government will increase the NHS Bursary tuition fee contributions, maintenance grants and all allowances by 3.1%. This is the second consecutive academic year that this Government has increased support through the NHS Bursary. For the 2025-26 academic year, the Government has also announced that maximum loans for living costs from Student Finance England (SFE), including reduced rate non-means tested loans for students in NHS Bursary years, will increase by 3.1%.The Government reviews the funding arrangements for medical students annually. This includes the NHS Bursary scheme and SFE support.

What recent discussions her Department has had with the Department for Health and Social Care on (a) medical student finance and (b) the adequacy of total financial support during NHS Bursary funded years of study.

The department works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) on a wide range of matters to ensure the education system is supporting healthcare students, including student funding.The government needs to ensure that the student funding system is financially sustainable, and funding arrangements are reviewed each year. We will continue to engage with DHSC to consider the financial support that medical students receive.Students attending the fifth and sixth years of undergraduate medical courses and years 2 to 4 of graduate entry medical courses qualify for NHS bursaries. The government has announced an increase to all NHS bursary maintenance grants and allowances for the 2025/26 academic year by forecast inflation, 3.1%, based on the Retail Price Index Excluding Mortgage Interest (RPIX) inflation index.Medical students qualifying for NHS bursary support also qualify for non-means tested loans for living costs from the department. The government has announced that maximum loans for living costs for the 2025/26 academic year, including reduced rate non-means tested loans for students undertaking NHS bursary years, will also increase by 3.1%.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling medical students to receive their student loan provision at the same rate as previous years alongside the NHS Bursary in their final years of study.

The department works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) on a wide range of matters to ensure the education system is supporting healthcare students, including student funding.The government needs to ensure that the student funding system is financially sustainable, and funding arrangements are reviewed each year. We will continue to engage with DHSC to consider the financial support that medical students receive.Students attending the fifth and sixth years of undergraduate medical courses and years 2 to 4 of graduate entry medical courses qualify for NHS bursaries. The government has announced an increase to all NHS bursary maintenance grants and allowances for the 2025/26 academic year by forecast inflation, 3.1%, based on the Retail Price Index Excluding Mortgage Interest (RPIX) inflation index.Medical students qualifying for NHS bursary support also qualify for non-means tested loans for living costs from the department. The government has announced that maximum loans for living costs for the 2025/26 academic year, including reduced rate non-means tested loans for students undertaking NHS bursary years, will also increase by 3.1%.

What recent estimate she has made of the proportion of Employment and Support Allowance claimants who have not moved to Universal Credit after the deadline day set out in their migration notice in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, (b) the North East and (c) England.

Monthly statistics for the number of People and Households sent a Migration Notice for Move to Universal Credit in Great Britain by geography including by Westminster Parliamentary Constituency and by legacy benefit type are published quarterly on Stat-Xplore - Log in People invited to Move to Universal Credit statistics are currently available from July 2022 to December 2024 in the People invited to Move to Universal Credit dataset. Households invited to Move to Universal Credit statistics are also available in the Households invited to Move to Universal Credit dataset. In addition there are a number of ready-made tables by various breakdowns available in the Move to Universal Credit tables. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access Introduction to the Stat-Xplore User Guide on how to extract the information required. There is also a Universal Credit Official Statistics: Stat-Xplore user guide - GOV.UK