Written questions by Martin.

What the value was of the Education and Skills Funding Agency Adult Education Budget allocated to Kent County Council in the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 financial year; and what the allocation will be in the 2025-26 financial year.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency awards adult education budget allocations on an annual basis. Allocations are based on an academic year rather than a financial year. Allocations that span the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years have been published on GOV.UK. ‘Funding allocations to training providers: 2023 to 2024’ can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-allocations-to-training-providers-2023-to-2024. ‘Funding allocations to training providers: 2024 to 2025’ can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-allocations-to-training-providers-2024-to-2025. Allocations for the 2025/26 academic year have not yet been finalised. The department expects to confirm these shortly.

If she will make it her policy to amend the definition of relevant carer in Section 23A of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to include individuals unable to apply for Child Benefit due to (a) extenuating circumstances and (b) domestic abuse.

Parents and carers who claim Child Benefit automatically receive National Insurance credits until their child turns twelve. These credits count towards future State Pension entitlement. Where HMRC is made aware that a person is a victim of domestic abuse, consideration of their Child Benefit claim will be prioritised before other, standard claims. The Government recognises that some individuals may have missed out on entitlement towards their State Pension if they were eligible to claim Child Benefit but were unable or chose not to. This is why the Government is introducing a new NI credit for people who missed out on National Insurance credits because they did not claim Child Benefit, where no other successful claim to Child Benefit was made for the same period. The credit will be available to claim from April 2026. Transitional arrangements will be in place to ensure those affected from 2013 will be able to claim retrospectively. Information about the full range of National Insurance credits available, the criteria that must be met to be awarded them and guidance on how to apply for them, is provided on the Government website at: www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility.

What steps her Department is taking to support parents and carers who are survivors of domestic abuse that caused them to be unable to claim Child Benefit and National Insurance credits; and if she will take steps to support them.

Where HMRC is made aware that a person is a victim of domestic abuse, consideration of a claim for Child Benefit will be prioritised before other, standard claims. A Child Benefit claim can be backdated for a maximum of three months. However, only one person can be entitled to Child Benefit for the same period except in exceptional circumstances, those being fraud or misrepresentation. Parents and carers who are entitled to Child Benefit automatically receive National Insurance credits until their child turns twelve. These credits count towards their future State Pension entitlement. The government recognises that some individuals may have missed out on entitlement towards their State Pension if they were eligible to claim Child Benefit but did not do so. From April 2026 a new National Insurance credit will be introduced for people who missed out on the National Insurance credits because they did not claim Child Benefit and where no other successful claim to Child Benefit was made for the same period. There will be transitional arrangements in place that will allow people to claim the new credit retrospectively as far back as 2013.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of applying VAT to private school fees on children attending extracurricular activities at private schools, despite not attending them.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has made no assessment of the impact of applying VAT to school fees on children who do not attend private schools but may utilise their facilities. The 20% standard rate of VAT applies to all education services, vocational training and boarding services provided by private schools for a charge. The VAT treatment of services delivered by third-party providers at private schools, for instance, self-employed music teachers or organisations that rent out private schools’ facilities, are unaffected by this policy. These services will always have been subject to VAT, if the provider is VAT-registered, unless it is private tutoring of a subject ordinarily taught in schools, which is exempt from VAT. However, any before or after school childcare, or childcare-based holiday clubs, that consists solely of childcare and does not fall within the definition of education will remain exempt from VAT by virtue of the fact that welfare services are exempt from VAT. HM Revenue and Customs have published guidance on charging and/or reclaiming VAT on good and services related to private school fees, which can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charging-and-reclaiming-vat-on-goods-and-services-related-to-private-school-fees.

Whether there are compensation schemes available for people made ill by defective hip replacements supplied by DePuy.

NHS Resolution (NHSR) manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England. NHSR has confirmed that there is no specific NHS compensation scheme for claims relating to defective hip replacements supplied by DePuy.While there is no specific compensation scheme for claims relating to defective hip replacements supplied by DePuy, NHSR’s website gives some general advice for claimants wishing to make a claim for clinical negligence, with further information available at the following link:https://resolution.nhs.uk/services/claims-management/advice-for-claimants/Anyone who is aware of complications or adverse events associated with hip replacement devices is encouraged to seek clinical advice from their responsible clinician and report the issue via the Yellow Card Scheme, which is available at the following link:https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 16106 on Overseas Students: Ukraine, whether Ukrainian students who gain an 18-month extension on their visa through the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme will be eligible for home fees status for the full duration of their degree; and whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to allow Ukrainian students to extend their visa once the 18-month extension has expired.

The department has amended the Student Support regulations so that those who have been granted leave under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme may qualify for higher education student support in England and home fee status without the requirement to meet the normal three-year ordinary residence requirement.Where a person's Ukraine Scheme permission expires during their course of study and they are granted further permission to remain under one of the standard immigration routes, they will continue to be eligible to access student support and home fee status while they complete their studies. This is in line with those granted leave under the other Ukraine Schemes.We will continue to keep the Ukraine Schemes under consistent review in line with developments in the ongoing war.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) increasing employers' National Insurance contributions, (b) increasing minimum wage and (c) cutting the business rates relief for retail, hospitality, and leisure on the hospitality sector.

An assessment of the changes to Employers’ National Insurance has been published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact Note, including impacts on the exchequer, the economy, individuals, households and families, equalities, and businesses including civil society organisations, alongside details on monitoring and evaluation. The National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) rates are set based on recommendations by the independent and expert Low Pay Commission (LPC). The government has asked the LPC to monitor the effects of the NLW and has given them a clear mandate to recommend a change of course where necessary. On business rates, for 2025-26, the government will provide a 40 per cent discount to Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) properties up to a cash cap of £110,0000 per business and has frozen the small business multiplier. This will save the average pub, with a rateable value (RV) of £16,800, over £3,300 in 2025. From 2026-27, the government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for RHL properties with an RV below £500,000. To sustainably fund this tax cut, the government intends to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026-27 - those with an RV of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the criteria for removing varicose veins to include the level of pain experienced.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance identifies several treatment options for those with symptoms or complications associated with varicose veins, including surgery to remove the veins.Pain that is more severe can often be associated with other conditions. A decision on which treatment is most appropriate will be led by a clinician on a case- by-case basis, based on the evidence, level of associated risk, as well as the pain and symptoms the patient presents with.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the cost of (a) military and (b) humanitarian aid for Ukraine in 2025 for each taxpayer.

Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a serious threat to UK prosperity and security. We are proud to provide vital support to Ukraine. The UK will deliver £3 billion of military aid to Ukraine this year - our largest ever package - and every year until the end of the decade, or as long as it takes. The UK is also speeding up vital military support. The UK will provide £2.26 billion in additional support to Ukraine as part of the G7 loan scheme to be repaid from the windfall profits on immobilised Russian sovereign assets.We are also providing at least £120 million in humanitarian assistance through to the end of financial year 2024 to 2025. The UK's military and humanitarian support to Ukraine is delivered through a coordinated system to provide the most value for both the Ukrainian people and the British taxpayer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart on the release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah.

The UK remains committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah's release so he can be reunited with his family. The Foreign Secretary raised Mr El-Fattah's case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister most recently during his visit to Egypt on 23 January. The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi to raise Mr El-Fattah's case on 8 January. The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, raised with the Foreign Minister on 2 January.

What grants are available for (a) district and (b) borough councils to support mental health initiatives.

There are no grants available specifically to support mental health initiatives at this time; however, local authorities may decide to fund such initiatives from their Public Health Grant allocations.

If she will take steps to publish a timetable for the introduction of a Natural History GCSE.

I refer the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells to the answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 18517.

If she will hold discussions with Southeastern Rail on the (a) flexibility and (b) affordability of its fares.

With the expansion of Pay as You Go with contactless, we will give passengers simpler, easier and more flexible ways to travel, and deliver a Transport for London-style “best price guarantee” for most passengers on the day of travel. Whilst it is our ambition through public ownership to deliver a more affordable railway, any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway. Through future legislation, we will set out the role Great British Railways will have in fares, ticketing, and other operational aspects of the Railway. Fares and ticketing will continue to be the responsibility of train operators until Great British Railways is established.

What recent progress he has made with NHS England on rolling out the Fracture Liaison Service.

Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model, and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%.The Government and NHS England support the clinical case for services which help to prevent fragility fractures, and support the patients who sustain them. The Government is committed to ending the postcode lottery for access to FLS.FLS are commissioned by integrated care boards, which make decisions according to local need. Officials are continuing to work closely with NHS England to consider how best to support systems to ensure better quality and access to these important preventative services.

What the uptake is of (a) Covid-19 and (b) flu vaccinations in Tunbridge Wells constituency .

The information is not held in the format requested. Monthly data includes the numbers of those vaccinated, but the data is not extrapolated and is based on the response rate of those organisations responding to the monthly survey. NHS England and local authority data is not held for the Tunbridge Wells constituency.National level COVID-19 and flu vaccine uptake percentages for eligible general practice (GP) patients are published weekly by the UK Health Security Agency for the 2024 to 2025 season. This includes a descriptive analysis comparing weekly uptake percentages to the same week in the previous season. The seasonal uptake reports for 2024 to 2025 are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-2024-to-2025-seasonFlu vaccine uptake data for GP patients, school-aged children, and frontline healthcare workers is published monthly. Healthcare worker data also includes COVID-19 vaccine uptake data. The data for the 2024 to 2025 season is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-uptake#seasonal-flu-vaccine-uptake:-figuresRegional level COVID-19 data for the Autumn 2024 campaign is published by the Office of National Statistics in the National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports for the 2024 to 2025 season, which are available at the following link:https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/dfae04aa7f624cdd89af6903c76c0056/explore

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing VAT on school uniforms.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Taxation is a vital source of revenue that helps to fund vital public services including schools and hospitals.Children’s clothing designed for young children, including branded school uniform, already benefits from VAT relief. To ensure that this relief is carefully targeted this relief is limited to clothing designed and labelled for children under the age of 14.Increasing the scope of this VAT relief to all school uniform would come at a cost to the Exchequer, with no guarantee that any reliefs would be passed on to consumers. We therefore have no plans to make changes here.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of section 23 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill on schools' ability to participate in team sports.

School uniforms play a valuable role in creating a sense of common identity among pupils and reducing visible inequalities, however, too many schools require high numbers of branded uniform items which creates a significant cost burden for families. This is why the department has introduced legislation to limit the number of branded items of uniform and physical education (PE) kit that schools can require, to bring down costs for parents and remove barriers from children accessing sport and other school activities. This will give parents more choice in where to purchase uniform and allow them greater flexibility to make the spending decisions that suit their circumstances.​The department expects schools to ensure that all pupils can participate in all aspects of school life, including PE and sport. No pupil should be discouraged from participating in any aspect of school life, such as team sports or interschool competitions, because of the cost of additional uniform requirements. This limit allows school leaders to prioritise branding the uniform and PE kit items which best reflect the needs of their school, whilst reducing costs for parents.​Our statutory guidance on the ‘Cost of School Uniform’ already requires schools to avoid being overly specific in their kit requirements for different sports and keep the number of items, particularly the number of branded items, to a minimum. Research also tells us that the more choice that girls in particular have over what to wear for PE, the more comfortable they are and the greater the likelihood of their long term participation in sport. The research is available at the following link: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/43602/documents/216689/default/.Schools will still be free to loan out specific competition kit where appropriate, however, the cost of PE and sports kit should never be a barrier to participation in PE and sport, and that is why this measure is needed.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of section 23 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill on small businesses that provide school uniforms.

School uniforms play a valuable role in creating a sense of common identity among pupils and reducing visible inequalities, however, too many schools require high numbers of branded uniform items which creates cost pressures for too many families. This is why the department has introduced legislation to limit the number of branded items of uniform and physical education (PE) kit that schools can require, to bring down costs for parents and remove barriers from children accessing sport and other school activities. This will give parents more choice in where to purchase non-branded items of uniform and allow them greater flexibility to make the spending decisions that suit their circumstances.The department has considered the impact on small businesses, including by talking to partners in the sector, and recognises that it is likely that this measure will reduce demand for branded items offered by small businesses.We know that these businesses have a valuable place in the uniform sector, bringing benefits such as providing year-round guaranteed supply, a diversity of sizes and specialist advice to schools and parents. For these reasons, we expect many parents will continue to buy non-branded uniform from such businesses. Specialist suppliers will still be able to offer optional branded items alongside generic options.School uniforms should be designed to make children smarter not families poorer. Our data suggests that where parents can buy items from a range of suppliers the average cost of uniform is significantly lower.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the sale of Royal Mail on the protection of historic post boxes.

Royal Mail is an iconic part of the UK’s infrastructure, and the government has ensured that the takeover has been properly scrutinised. The government has secured a commitment from EP Group, the potential buyers, to ensure that Royal Mail retains control of assets necessary to deliver the universal service obligation and an additional commitment to ensure that Royal Mail continues to use the Royal Cypher in accordance with existing arrangements.Specific operational arrangements and agreements for historic post boxes continue to be a matter for Royal Mail as an independent business.

Whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the powers of Coroners to include the investigation of stillbirths.

The Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Justice jointly consulted on proposals to provide coroners with new powers to investigate term stillbirths in 2019. In 2023, a factual summary of responses to the consultation was published. The Government will provide an update on next steps at the earliest opportunity.