Written questions by Wilson.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15145 on Teachers: Workplace Pensions, what recent progress she has made on reducing the backlog of people waiting for cash equivalent transfer value details from teachers' pensions.

The scheme administrator has made significant progress to reduce the backlog of cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) figures that had built up whilst the necessary guidance was developed following the transitional protection legislation taking effect. CETVs that could be automated have been prioritised, alongside the most sensitive cases, to reduce the backlog from 3,062 at the end of October 2024 to 499 as of 4 April. The current outstanding figure includes recent applications. The scheme administrator is now working through the more complex cases for members who have not retired and have scheme flexibilities to take account of, which must be processed clerically as a result. Guidance to provide CETV calculations for members who have retired has recently been received and is being assessed by the scheme administrator. Where possible, the scheme administrator has issued Remediable Service Statements (RSS) to retired members, as once their RSS choice has been implemented, no further guidance is required. Addressing the remainder of the backlog remains a key priority for both the department and the scheme administrator, and all available resource continues to be used, including the use of ongoing overtime.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question 16368 on Schools: Buildings, how many and what proportion of the schools with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete had it permanently removed by 3 April 2025.

Where the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been confirmed, the government is funding the removal of RAAC from schools and colleges in England. The department has committed to resolving this problem as quickly as possible, permanently removing RAAC either through grant funding or the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP). Permanently removing RAAC may involve refurbishment of existing buildings or rebuilding affected buildings. All schools and colleges with confirmed RAAC are providing full time face-to-face education for all pupils and have suitable mitigations in place.For schools and colleges receiving grants, it is for responsible bodies to develop project plans that suit their individual circumstances, drawing on the department’s support as needed. The scope and cost of each project will vary depending on the extent of the issue and nature and design of the buildings. Grants are agreed with responsible bodies and we support them as they take this forward. The department is encouraging responsible bodies to plan their projects for completion as soon as realistically possible. Responsible bodies and settings might use time in school holidays for works to take place.As of 1 April 2025, 39 schools where works are being delivered by responsible bodies via grant funding have informed us they have permanently removed RAAC.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29915 on Parental Pay, how many people were in receipt of (a) Statutory Maternity Pay, (b) Statutory Paternity Pay, (c) Statutory Adoption Pay and (d) Statutory Shared Parental Pay in 2023-24.

Counts of employees receiving Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, and Statutory Shared Parental Pay in 2023-24 have been published in response to an earlier Parliamentary Question. They can be found at the following location: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-18/21027

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu.

As a close friend and ally of Turkey, the Government is closely monitoring the situation. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu is subject to an ongoing domestic Turkish legal process. The UK expects Turkey to uphold its international commitments and the rule of law, including swift and transparent judicial processes. The Government has been engaging with the Turkish Government and Foreign Secretary spoke with Foreign Minister Fidan on 29 March to raise these issues. The UK supports democracy, human rights and the rule of law across the world and will always support the fundamental rights to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and media freedom.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27891 on Detention and Training Orders: Children, how many and what proportion of the children identified as having SEND (a) had and (b) did not have (i) an EHC plan and (ii) other special needs support.

Children’s special educational needs are assessed when entering custody, and are regularly reviewed.To obtain the information requested, it would be necessary to undertake a detailed review of individual records, which could not be done without incurring disproportionate cost.

Media and Sport, whether Poland's President will be invited to the 80th VE celebrations.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is leading the Government’s contribution to the VE and VJ Day 80 and is working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to ensure appropriate representation at official events. The guest list for the commemorations has not been finalised.

If she will make an estimate of the number of court hearing records that were (a) lost and (b) not recorded in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) 5 years.

Data on information on audio recording failures is not collated or held centrally. Hearings across the Crown Court, Family Court, County Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal, as a matter of routine, are digitally audio recorded, among other things so as to facilitate the provision of written transcripts where, requested or required. Operational courtroom checks are undertaken daily to assure the technology used is working correctly.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of including misogyny and violence against women and girls in Relationships and Sex Education guidance.

The government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the next decade. Education has a crucial role to play in tackling harmful behaviour and helping children and young people to develop empathy, boundaries and respect for difference.Through compulsory relationships education, all pupils should already learn how to form positive and respectful relationships and develop an understanding of the concepts and laws around sexual harassment and sexual violence. The existing Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) statutory guidance emphasises that schools should be alive to issues such as everyday sexism, misogyny, homophobia and gender stereotypes, and take positive action to build a culture where these are not tolerated. It states that any occurrences should be identified and tackled. The guidance is clear that schools should provide pupils with the knowledge they need to recognise and report abuse, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse.​​The department is currently reviewing the statutory RSHE curriculum for primary and secondary pupils, and as part of this review we are looking at how to ensure that relationships education effectively equips pupils to form healthy and respectful relationships. We are analysing consultation responses, talking to stakeholders and considering relevant evidence to determine what curriculum changes might be needed to complement our wider actions to tackle misogyny and VAWG.

When she plans to publish updated Relationships and Sex Education guidance.

I refer the hon. Member for Twickenham to the answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 28134.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of testing water quality under the water framework directive annually instead of every three years.

The Environment Agency (EA) samples and analyses local water body information continuously throughout the year. Under the Water Framework Directive, the EA must publish the sample results at least every six years as a national classification inform River Basin Management Plans. The EA also publishes an interim updates every three years. This is the best use of resources given the natural environment takes time to respond to changes. We are making significant improvement to our monitoring to give a fuller, more accurate picture of our water bodies. The flagship Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment programme will provide a statistically robust baseline assessment of the health of waters at a national scale.The independent commission into the water sector regulatory system was launched by UK and Welsh Governments in October 2024. The commission is reviewing the Water Framework Directive and the associated monitoring system. The Commission will report to the UK and Welsh Governments by the end of June 2025.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of Frontier Economics' report entitled Modelling the effects of closer UK-EU cooperation and of US tariffs, published on 10 February 2025.

We welcome the publication of the report and the contribution to the evidence base used to inform our trade policy. Our number one priority is growing the UK economy, and a positive trading relationship with both the US and with our European partners are part of that approach.

How many employees in the civil service have a learning disability.

No data is held centrally on the total number of Civil Service employees with learning disabilities.

If she will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent the sale of lethal substances promoted by online pro-suicide forums.

The Poisons Act 1972 sets out the legal obligations in relation to the sale, purchase, and use of these chemicals for suppliers, professional users, and members of the public.The Home Office work with retailers to raise awareness and emphasise their legal obligation to report suspicious activity for regulated and reportable substances.The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are currently leading on the Online Safety Act.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of making the Telecommunications Fraud Sector Charter compulsory.

The Government is clear that all sectors and partners need to move further and faster to prevent fraud and protect UK citizens and businesses.The Telecommunications Charter is a testament to what can be achieved when industry and government work together to deliver tangible actions that reduce the fraud threat. We are working on a second charter which will build on the telecommunication sector’s existing voluntary anti-fraud work and go further in identifying, preventing and disrupting telecoms fraud.As per the manifesto commitment, we will also be publishing an expanded Fraud Strategy that covers the full range of threats that our society faces from this crime.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21417 on Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing full financial redress in cases where the state has accepted responsibility for personal (a) injustice and (b) financial loss.

In 2010 the government allocated up to £1.5 billon, tax free, for payment to affected policyholders and this decision was in line with the Ombudsman’s report. More detail on the history of the action taken on this issue can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report. Since the Scheme closed in 2016, the Government’s position on this issue has been clear, that there are no plans to reopen any decisions relating to the Payment Scheme and this issue is considered closed.

How many (a) nurseries, (b) primary schools, (c) secondary schools and (d) 16-18 colleges identified as containing asbestos and listed on the Schools Rebuilding Programme (i) were scheduled to be and (ii) were (A) complete and (B) in progress by 1 March 2025.

The government has committed £1.4 billion to continue the current School Rebuilding Programme (SRP) in 2025/26, reconfirming our commitment to rebuild or refurbish 518 schools and sixth-form colleges across England, prioritising delivery based on need.Asbestos management in schools and other buildings is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Responsible bodies are duty holders for asbestos management within school buildings and must follow requirements and standards set by the HSE. The department expects all local authorities, governing bodies, academy trusts and colleges to have robust plans in place to manage asbestos in school buildings effectively and in line with their legal duties, drawing on appropriate professional advice. The department follows the advice of the HSE that, provided asbestos-containing materials are in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed, it is generally safest to manage them in place, otherwise they should be removed.Just under half of schools in the SRP have started various stages of project delivery. Of those that have not yet commenced, the department plans to increase the number of school rebuilding projects starting delivery activity in the next financial year to 100.

How many (a) nurseries, (b) primary schools, (c) secondary schools and (d) 16-18 colleges identified as containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete and listed on the Schools Rebuilding Programme (i) were scheduled to be and (ii) were (A) complete and (B) in progress by 1 March 2025.

The department is committed to improving the condition of the school and college estate through the department’s annual funding for the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP) and by fixing the problem of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). The government is funding the removal of RAAC from schools and colleges in England, permanently removing RAAC either through grant funding or the SRP. All schools and colleges confirmed to have RAAC are providing full-time, face-to-face education for all pupils and have suitable mitigations in place.For schools and colleges receiving grants to permanently remove RAAC, it is for responsible bodies to develop project plans that suit their individual circumstances, drawing on support from the department as needed. The department is encouraging responsible bodies to plan their projects for completion as soon as realistically possible, although settings will need sufficient time in school holidays for works to take place. The department is continuing to support responsible bodies as they take this forward.All schools in the SRP are prioritised for delivery according to the condition of their buildings, their readiness to proceed and the efficiency of delivery. This includes schools who will have RAAC permanently removed through the SRP. The department also takes into account the suitability and longevity of any temporary accommodation schools may have in place. Expected delivery timeframes have been communicated to all responsible bodies and specific start dates are communicated at least a month in advance of the project entering delivery. Once a school enters delivery, a project team carries out a feasibility study which determines the scope of the works. All schools with confirmed RAAC in SRP are progressing as planned.

How many two year olds were recorded as eligible for 15 hours of free childcare in the academic year 2024-25; and how many were unable to take up those hours due to shortage of nursery places.

Information on 15 hours free childcare entitlements is published in the education provision: children under 5 years of age statistical publication. The publication is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-provision-children-under-5/2024. Data on the number of two-year-olds eligible for the 15 hours free childcare entitlement for working parents is expected to be published in July 2025. An estimated 154,957 disadvantaged 2-year-old were eligible for 15-hours of free childcare in January 2024. Based on analyses of data from various surveys, an estimated 427,000 three and four-year-olds were eligible for the 30-hour entitlement in January 2024. Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Part B of the early education and childcare statutory guidance for local authorities highlights that local authorities are required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents. The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. No local authority is currently reporting a sufficiency concern. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, the department will discuss what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and where needed, we support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

How many (a) three and (b) four year olds were recorded as eligible for the additional 15 hours of free childcare in the academic year 2024-25; and how many were unable to take up those hours due to shortage of nursery places.

Information on 15 hours free childcare entitlements is published in the education provision: children under 5 years of age statistical publication. The publication is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-provision-children-under-5/2024. Data on the number of two-year-olds eligible for the 15 hours free childcare entitlement for working parents is expected to be published in July 2025. An estimated 154,957 disadvantaged 2-year-old were eligible for 15-hours of free childcare in January 2024. Based on analyses of data from various surveys, an estimated 427,000 three and four-year-olds were eligible for the 30-hour entitlement in January 2024. Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Part B of the early education and childcare statutory guidance for local authorities highlights that local authorities are required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents. The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. No local authority is currently reporting a sufficiency concern. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, the department will discuss what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and where needed, we support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

How many (a) nurseries, (b) primary schools, (c) secondary schools and (d) 16-18 colleges listed on the Schools Rebuilding Programme (i) were scheduled to be and (ii) were (A) complete and (B) in progress by 1 March 2025.

The government has committed £1.4 billion to continue the current School Rebuilding Programme (SRP) in 2025/26, reconfirming our commitment to rebuild or refurbish 518 schools and sixth form colleges across England, prioritising delivery based on need. We have handed over 28 projects, refurbished or rebuilt, in the SRP. All schools within the programme are prioritised for delivery according to the condition of their buildings, readiness to proceed, and efficiency of delivery. Expected delivery timeframes have been communicated to all responsible bodies.Just under half of SRP projects have started various stages of delivery activity. In the next financial year, we plan to increase the number of existing school rebuilding projects on which we will start delivery to 100, from 50 in the 2023/24 financial year and 75 in the 2024/25 financial year, so work can start more quickly.