Written questions by Duncan-Jordan.

How many people with multiple sclerosis who receive a Personal Independence Payment daily living award do not score more than four points in any of the daily living activities.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Whether funding for personalised employment support for individuals with (a) health conditions and (b) disabilities will be made accessible to independent advice agencies to help disabled people into work.

We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that we would establish a new guarantee of support for all disabled people and people with health conditions claiming out of work benefits who want help to get into or return to work, backed up by £1 billion of new funding As the Green Paper notes, we will explore how to make the best use of capabilities at national and at local levels, so that individuals receive seamless support from a coherent system. We want to work with the health system, local government, Mayoral Strategic Authorities, skills providers, employers, private and voluntary sector providers and service users to design our ‘Pathways to Work’ offer. We are committed to making sure the help on offer is appropriate to local needs and local labour markets.

Whether she plans to provide additional support to (a) deaf and (b) disabled people’s organisations.

I refer the Hon. member to the answer I gave on 20 March to PQ 37556 A full suite of accessible versions is now available, and the consultation will close on 30 June 2025, to ensure that everyone has sufficient time to engage with and respond to the consultation. We are also running a programme of accessible virtual and face to face events on the consultation, to hear from members of the public directly, including disabled people and their representatives. More information about these events and registration is available on GOV.UK.

How many people with Multiple Sclerosis who receive income-based Employment and Support Allowance do not also receive Personal Independence Payment.

In August 2024 there were 6,480* people in receipt of Income-related ESA whose main condition was multiple sclerosis. 1,490* of those in receipt of Income-related ESA whose main condition was multiple sclerosis were not in receipt of PIP, the remaining 5,000* were. * Rounded to the nearest ten. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

How many people with Multiple Sclerosis get contributions-based Employment and Support Allowance.

In August 2024 there were 14,620* people in receipt of contributions-based ESA whose main condition was multiple sclerosis. * Rounded to the nearest ten.

How many people with Multiple Sclerosis who receive Universal Credit do not also receive Personal Independence Payment.

The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Whether she plans to increase funding for (a) free school meals and (b) universal infant free school meals to help source school meals from British produce.

The department spends approximately £1.5 billion annually on free lunches for 2.1 million school age pupils under benefits-based free school meals, over 90,000 disadvantaged students in further education, and around 1.3 million infant pupils under the Universal Infant Free School Meal scheme to ensure they receive a nutritious lunchtime meal.Funding is not ring-fenced, meaning that schools have autonomy over delivery, including entering into catering contracts with suppliers and allocation of funding within their budgets.The department regularly speaks to food industry representatives on a range of issues including sector challenges such as funding.As with all government programmes, the department will keep our approach to free school meals, including funding, under continued review.

What discussions her Department has had with (a) deaf and (b) disabled people’s organisations on the potential impact of proposed disability benefit changes.

I refer the Hon. member to the answer I gave on 20 March to PQ 37556 A full suite of accessible versions is now available, and the consultation will close on 30 June 2025, to ensure that everyone has sufficient time to engage with and respond to the consultation. We are also running a programme of accessible virtual and face to face events on the consultation, to hear from members of the public directly, including disabled people and their representatives. More information about these events and registration is available on GOV.UK.

If she will ringfence school meal funding.

The department spends approximately £1.5 billion annually on free lunches for 2.1 million school age pupils under benefits-based free school meals, over 90,000 disadvantaged students in further education, and around 1.3 million infant pupils under the Universal Infant Free School Meal scheme to ensure they receive a nutritious lunchtime meal.Funding is not ring-fenced, meaning that schools have autonomy over delivery, including entering into catering contracts with suppliers and allocation of funding within their budgets.The department regularly speaks to food industry representatives on a range of issues including sector challenges such as funding.As with all government programmes, the department will keep our approach to free school meals, including funding, under continued review.

How many people with Multiple Sclerosis receive Universal Credit.

The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

What steps her Department is taking to implement (a) a workforce development strategy, (b) apprenticeships and (c) career pathways for the independent advice sector.

An appropriately trained workforce of careers advisers, available to work with young people and adults in a range of settings, is a key part of our approach to careers provision. The department wants to ensure that people from all backgrounds can access the expert advice they need to explore a range of career pathways and labour market opportunities. This supports the development of a skilled workforce across all sectors, driving economic growth through our Industrial Strategy.The department works closely with the Career Development Institute (CDI), the UK’s professional body for careers work, which provides training and professional development. The current offer includes a bespoke department-funded programme for National Careers Service advisers and a programme, funded by the Gatsby Foundation, targeted on raising awareness of technical education pathways amongst careers advisers working in schools and colleges.The CDI maintains the UK Register of Career Development Professionals with members adhering to a code of ethics and committing to regular professional development. The CDI also provides advice on the right qualifications for various roles and how to conduct effective personal guidance meetings.Secondary schools and colleges are legally required to secure independent and impartial careers guidance for all learners up to the age of 18 and for 19 to 24-year olds with an education, health and care plan. Careers statutory guidance sets a clear expectation that schools and colleges should make sure that careers advisers providing personal guidance to learners are trained to the appropriate level. The department recommends that schools and colleges use the CDI’s register to find suitable careers advisers qualified to at least level 6 in a career development subject. The main level 6 and 7 qualifications for careers advisers are the level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development, the level 6 Higher Apprenticeship: Career Development Professional and the Qualification in Career Development at level 7.Over 760 careers advisers form the bedrock of our National Careers Service, providing free, up to date, impartial information, advice and guidance on careers and the labour market in England. National Careers Service prime contractors must make sure that all advisers hold career development qualifications appropriate to their role and demonstrate in their workforce development strategy that they are committed to employing staff in line with the standards set by the CDI. The government is committed to bringing the National Careers Service and Jobcentre Plus closer together and we will set out further details on this soon.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37040 on Gaza: RAF Akrotiri, whether those flights continued during the ceasefire.

Since the terrorist attacks against Israel of 7 October 2023, the Ministry of Defence has been conducting unarmed surveillance flights over Gaza for the sole purpose of locating hostages. RAF aircraft operated in accordance with the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas when flying in support of hostage recovery. I hope the hon. Gentleman understands that I cannot comment further for reasons of operational security. To be clear, our priority since day one has been a sustainable ceasefire, and a lasting peace that will over time ensure the long-term peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis. There must be a return to dialogue, the remaining hostages must be released, aid must flow into Gaza, and the ceasefire must be reestablished.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the take up of means-tested benefits in households with children in poverty.

The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy, and we are exploring all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. High childcare costs are a key barrier in preventing individuals into work, we want to ensure that the right financial help is provided to make it easier for low incomes families to choose work, stay in and progress in work. Our focus is on bringing about an enduring reduction in child poverty in this parliament, thereby reversing the trend that is seeing forecasts of child poverty continuing to increase. More details, including on the time horizon, will be set out in the strategy publication.

With reference to the Green Paper: Pathways to Work, published on 18 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to (a) health and (b) disability benefits on health inequalities.

The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain, to ensure people can live well for longer, and spend less time in ill health, regardless of where they are born or their financial circumstances. We are working with the Department for Health and Social Care to ensure that health is built into our policies, including those outlined in the Pathways to Work Green Paper. Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

If her Department will undertake a health impact assessment of proposed changes to health and disability benefits in her Department's Green Paper entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, published on 18 March 2025.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to review cross-Government spending on tackling homelessness, in the context of the Spending Review.

As part of the current Spending Review, the government will be reviewing all spending across government, including spend on tackling homelessness. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the welfare reforms proposed in her Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, last updated 28 March 2025, on (a) reducing levels of and (b) preventing homelessness among disabled people.

No assessment has yet been made. Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

What recent estimate she has made of the number of children who are not receiving their free milk entitlement; and if she will take steps to monitor compliance with school food standards.

Under the School Food Standards, schools must ensure milk is available to all pupils who want it during school hours, which includes any time during a school session or a break between sessions. Section 512ZB (3) of the Education Act 1996 sets out the requirement that milk must be provided free of charge to pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM). The department does not hold data on the number of children who are not receiving their free milk entitlement through FSM.Compliance with the School Food Standards is mandatory for maintained schools, academies and free schools.  Governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance and should appropriately challenge the headteacher and the senior leadership team to ensure the school is meeting its obligations. The department is keeping our approach to school food compliance under review.

What assessment she has made in the Pathways to Work Green Paper of the adequacy of (a) ill health and (b) disability benefits.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides a contribution to the extra costs that may arise from a disability or health condition. DWP pays close attention to estimates of the extra costs faced by disabled people; including academic research, analysis by Scope, and DWP’s own commissioned research on the Uses of Health and Disability Benefits from 2019. In order to improve the evidence in this area, DWP is now undertaking a new survey of Personal Independence Payment customers to understand more about their disability related needs. It is expected to produce findings in Autumn 2025.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure schools fulfil their legal obligations under school food standards to provide free milk for students with their free school (a) breakfast and (b) meal.

Under the School Food Standards, schools must ensure milk is available to all pupils who want it during school hours, which includes any time during a school session or a break between sessions. Section 512ZB (3) of the Education Act 1996 sets out the requirement that milk must be provided free of charge to pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM). The department does not hold data on the number of children who are not receiving their free milk entitlement through FSM.Compliance with the School Food Standards is mandatory for maintained schools, academies and free schools.  Governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance and should appropriately challenge the headteacher and the senior leadership team to ensure the school is meeting its obligations. The department is keeping our approach to school food compliance under review.