Written questions by O'Brien.

What plans she has to review the treatment of migrant workers in the care sector.

The Government is deeply concerned by reports of unethical practices relating to international recruits within the adult social care sector. UK Visas and Immigration continue to investigate and take action, alongside partners, where evidence of abuse is found, engaging with the Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority and other relevant agencies to hold employers to account and working with Department for Health and Social Care to support impacted workers.

How many and what proportion of pupils with an education, health and care plan have a named school on their education, health and care plan.

As at January 2024, 446,448 children and young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan, had a school (including mainstream schools, special schools, alternative provision or pupil referral unit) named as the setting on their EHC plan. This represents 77.5% of all EHC plans.

With reference to the official statistics entitled Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2024, CP 1131, published on 30 July 2024, if she will publish by Department the data provided in Table 6.5.

Underlying data for table 6.5 will become available on 28 November when the Annual OSCAR Transparency Release is published on GOV.UK. As an alternative, economic category data based on departmental budgets (PESA table 2.1) are available from the “Public Spending Statistics (PSS) July 2024: database” webpage:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/public-spending-statistics-release-july-2024

With reference to paragraph 2.40 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the increase in the rate of employer National Insurance Contributions on the number of apprenticeship starts in each year to 2030.

To repair public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance.The government recognises the need to protect the smallest employers, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with National Insurance Contributions (NICs) liabilities either gain or see no change next year. Employers will continue to be able to claim employer NICs reliefs, including the relief for employing apprentices under 25, where eligible.

What the cost of employer National Insurance Contributions was for (a) central Government, (b) local government and (c) the whole of government in each of the last five financial years; what estimate she has made of those costs for the (i) 2025-26 financial year and (ii) subsequent four financial years; and what proportion of the total public sector pay bill Employer National Insurance accounted for in each of last five financial years.

The Treasury does not collect spending information on this basis. However, as set out in the Autumn Budget, the government has set aside funding to support the public sector with employer National Insurance Contributions. The amounts are £4.7bn in 2025-26, £4.7bn in 2026-27, £4.8bn in 2027-28, £4.9bn in 2028-29 and £5.1bn in 2029-30.

With reference to paragraph 2.40 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the increase in the rate of employer National Insurance Contributions on (a) direct and (b) indirect departmental costs.

My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, made an announcement at the Autumn Budget 2024 setting out changes to Employers National Insurance Contributions policy. Alongside this, she announced funding to the public sector to support them with the additional associated cost. The department will work closely with HM Treasury (HMT) to understand the implications for our sectors. This process will conclude when HMT confirm funding allocations by department as part of setting baselines and planning assumptions for the second phase of the spending review.

With reference to paragraph 2.40 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the increase in the rate of employer National Insurance Contributions on the costs of (a) schools, (b) colleges, (c) higher education institutions and (d) early years settings in each year to 2030.

My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, made an announcement at the Autumn Budget 2024 setting out changes to Employers National Insurance Contributions policy. Alongside this, she announced funding to the public sector to support them with the additional associated cost. The department will work closely with HM Treasury (HMT) to understand the implications for our sectors. This process will conclude when HMT confirm funding allocations by department as part of setting baselines and planning assumptions for the second phase of the spending review.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing the maximum level of maintenance loan that students can take out on public sector net (a) debt and (b) financial liabilities.

The department publishes forecasts annually for higher education and further education student loans in England. The published forecasts include assumptions that fee caps and maintenance loans will increase annually by RPI All Items Index Excl Mortgage Interest (RPIX). These assumptions are agreed with a range of stakeholders, including HM Treasury (HMT), the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and the National Audit Office. These forecasts are available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/student-loan-forecasts-for-england.These assumptions in the baseline forecast mean the policy to apply inflationary increases to fee caps and maintenance loans in the 2025/26 academic year is equivalent to the baseline forecast, so there is no additional cost on either public sector net debt or financial liabilities when compared to the published figures, which are included in departmental accounts and provided to HMT.Any increase to loan amounts, whether on maintenance or fee loans, compared to the baseline would increase public sector net debt (PSND) and public sector net financial liabilities (PSNFL). Student loans affect PSND by changing the government’s cash balance. The change in PSND is calculated as outlay (payments to students and providers) minus repayments. PSNFL includes the portion of student loans expected to be repaid and is calculated as PSND minus the modified loan balance. The annual increase in net debt would be equal to the increased cashflow, so the same as the increase in outlay in the near future.In the context of student loans, public sector net financial liabilities are most affected in the short term by the proportion of the additional outlay the department forecasts will eventually be written off. As such, the impact of increased loan amounts would be smaller on net financial liabilities than on net debt.The OBR was created in 2010 to provide independent and authoritative analysis of the UK’s public finances. The OBR’s approach to scrutinising each measure on HMT’s scorecard and incorporating these into its forecast is set out in its ‘Briefing paper No.6: Policy costings and our forecast’, which is available here: https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/27814-BriefingPaperNo_6.pdf.Inflationary increases to fee caps and maintenance loans are already included in the baseline forecast provided to the OBR, so no policy costing was necessary in this case, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has had no discussions with the OBR on this matter.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of an increase in university tuition fees have on public sector net (a) debt and (b) financial liabilities.

The department publishes forecasts annually for higher education and further education student loans in England. The published forecasts include assumptions that fee caps and maintenance loans will increase annually by RPI All Items Index Excl Mortgage Interest (RPIX). These assumptions are agreed with a range of stakeholders, including HM Treasury (HMT), the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and the National Audit Office. These forecasts are available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/student-loan-forecasts-for-england.These assumptions in the baseline forecast mean the policy to apply inflationary increases to fee caps and maintenance loans in the 2025/26 academic year is equivalent to the baseline forecast, so there is no additional cost on either public sector net debt or financial liabilities when compared to the published figures, which are included in departmental accounts and provided to HMT.Any increase to loan amounts, whether on maintenance or fee loans, compared to the baseline would increase public sector net debt (PSND) and public sector net financial liabilities (PSNFL). Student loans affect PSND by changing the government’s cash balance. The change in PSND is calculated as outlay (payments to students and providers) minus repayments. PSNFL includes the portion of student loans expected to be repaid and is calculated as PSND minus the modified loan balance. The annual increase in net debt would be equal to the increased cashflow, so the same as the increase in outlay in the near future.In the context of student loans, public sector net financial liabilities are most affected in the short term by the proportion of the additional outlay the department forecasts will eventually be written off. As such, the impact of increased loan amounts would be smaller on net financial liabilities than on net debt.The OBR was created in 2010 to provide independent and authoritative analysis of the UK’s public finances. The OBR’s approach to scrutinising each measure on HMT’s scorecard and incorporating these into its forecast is set out in its ‘Briefing paper No.6: Policy costings and our forecast’, which is available here: https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/27814-BriefingPaperNo_6.pdf.Inflationary increases to fee caps and maintenance loans are already included in the baseline forecast provided to the OBR, so no policy costing was necessary in this case, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has had no discussions with the OBR on this matter.

What discussions she has had with the Office of Budget Responsibility on increasing (a) university tuition fees and (b) maximum maintenance loan levels.

The department publishes forecasts annually for higher education and further education student loans in England. The published forecasts include assumptions that fee caps and maintenance loans will increase annually by RPI All Items Index Excl Mortgage Interest (RPIX). These assumptions are agreed with a range of stakeholders, including HM Treasury (HMT), the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and the National Audit Office. These forecasts are available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/student-loan-forecasts-for-england.These assumptions in the baseline forecast mean the policy to apply inflationary increases to fee caps and maintenance loans in the 2025/26 academic year is equivalent to the baseline forecast, so there is no additional cost on either public sector net debt or financial liabilities when compared to the published figures, which are included in departmental accounts and provided to HMT.Any increase to loan amounts, whether on maintenance or fee loans, compared to the baseline would increase public sector net debt (PSND) and public sector net financial liabilities (PSNFL). Student loans affect PSND by changing the government’s cash balance. The change in PSND is calculated as outlay (payments to students and providers) minus repayments. PSNFL includes the portion of student loans expected to be repaid and is calculated as PSND minus the modified loan balance. The annual increase in net debt would be equal to the increased cashflow, so the same as the increase in outlay in the near future.In the context of student loans, public sector net financial liabilities are most affected in the short term by the proportion of the additional outlay the department forecasts will eventually be written off. As such, the impact of increased loan amounts would be smaller on net financial liabilities than on net debt.The OBR was created in 2010 to provide independent and authoritative analysis of the UK’s public finances. The OBR’s approach to scrutinising each measure on HMT’s scorecard and incorporating these into its forecast is set out in its ‘Briefing paper No.6: Policy costings and our forecast’, which is available here: https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/27814-BriefingPaperNo_6.pdf.Inflationary increases to fee caps and maintenance loans are already included in the baseline forecast provided to the OBR, so no policy costing was necessary in this case, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has had no discussions with the OBR on this matter.

With reference to paragraph 2.40 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing funding rates for (a) public and (b) private sector childcare providers to account for the impact of the rise in the rate of employer national insurance contributions on childcare provider costs.

As announced at Budget, the department expects to provide £8.1 billion for early years entitlements in the 2025/26 financial year, which is around a 30% increase compared to 2024/25, as the department continues to rollout the expansion of the entitlements to eligible working parents of children aged from nine months. The department is looking at what the changes to National Insurance contributions will mean for the early years sector and will provide more details as soon as possible.The Employment Allowance will be worth up to £10,500 for eligible providers, meaning some smaller providers may pay no National Insurance at all in the 2025/26 financial year.The department is working at pace to publish funding rates for 2025/26 as we know how important this is for local authorities and providers.

With reference to paragraph 2.40 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the rise in the rate of employer national insurance contributions on childcare provider costs in each year of the Budget forecast.

As announced at Budget, the department expects to provide £8.1 billion for early years entitlements in the 2025/26 financial year, which is around a 30% increase compared to 2024/25, as the department continues to rollout the expansion of the entitlements to eligible working parents of children aged from nine months. The department is looking at what the changes to National Insurance contributions will mean for the early years sector and will provide more details as soon as possible.The Employment Allowance will be worth up to £10,500 for eligible providers, meaning some smaller providers may pay no National Insurance at all in the 2025/26 financial year.The department is working at pace to publish funding rates for 2025/26 as we know how important this is for local authorities and providers.

What assessment she has made on the impact that the national insurance increase will have on the cost of paid-for childcare.

As announced at Budget, the department expects to provide £8.1 billion for early years entitlements in the 2025/26 financial year, which is around a 30% increase compared to 2024/25, as the department continues to rollout the expansion of the entitlements to eligible working parents of children aged from nine months. The department is looking at what the changes to National Insurance contributions will mean for the early years sector and will provide more details as soon as possible.The Employment Allowance will be worth up to £10,500 for eligible providers, meaning some smaller providers may pay no National Insurance at all in the 2025/26 financial year.The department is working at pace to publish funding rates for 2025/26 as we know how important this is for local authorities and providers.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11294 on Armed Forces: Cadets, what discussions she had with the Minister for Veterans and People on the School staff instructor grant.

The department works closely with the Ministry of Defence on delivery of the Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP). The CEP is run jointly by the departments and funding decisions are discussed and shared with ministers from both departments in that context.The government, through the Ministry of Defence, provides in the region of £180 million to support cadet schemes. The CEP will continue to be delivered and receive £3.6 million in government funding for this academic year and through to the 2033/34 financial year. This goes to the single Service (i.e. Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force) cadet organisations, to provide funding for cadet expansion in schools.

With reference to the note entitled Allowance for impact on public sector organisations in Table 5.1 on page 118 of Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, if she will publish this information by Department.

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way.This is in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.The Government plans to update Parliament on allocations by department in the usual way as soon as possible.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2024 to Question 11035, on Social Security Benefits, for which benefit lines the Department holds data on the nationality of claimants at the point of National Insurance number registration.

Information on the nationality of claimants at the point of National Insurance number (NINo) registration is not used for benefit purposes so is not held on any benefit lines. As detailed in the background information and methodology, the administrative data generated from the Adult NINo Allocation and Registration service is analysed to produce the quarterly statistical publication on ‘National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK’. The administrative data which underpins this publication is the Migrant Workers Scan (MWS) and it is sourced from the HMRC National Insurance and PAYE Service (NPS) which is not used for benefit purposes.DWP policy responsibility lies in establishing the eligibility of non-UK / Irish claimants to claim benefits. An individual’s specific nationality, either at the time of NINo registration or at the time of benefit claim, does not play a role in this. Eligibility differs by benefit but is usually determined by an individual’s immigration status, alongside their ability to meet the requirements of the Habitual Residence Test (for income-related benefits), the Past Presence Test (for disability benefits), and / or having the necessary National Insurance contributions (for contributions-based benefits).

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2024 to Question 11035 on Social Security Benefits, if her Department will resume its annual publication entitled Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP working age benefit recipients.

Decisions regarding the development and publication of Official Statistics are the responsibility of the Chief Statistician. There are no plans to resume publication of ‘Nationality at point of National Insurance number (NINo) registration of DWP working age benefit recipients’ statistics.DWP policy responsibility lies in establishing the eligibility of non-UK / Irish claimants to claim benefits. An individual’s specific nationality, either at the time of NINo registration or at the time of benefit claim, does not play a role in this. Eligibility differs by benefit but is usually determined by an individual’s immigration status, alongside their ability to meet the requirements of the Habitual Residence Test (for income-related benefits), the Past Presence Test (for disability benefits), and / or having the necessary National Insurance contributions (for contributions-based benefits).

What the cost to the public purse was of the Army Cadet force in each year since 2019; and what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of the Army Cadet force in 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.

Due to the way financial data for the Army Cadet Force is captured and managed, it is taking time to collate all the relevant information. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as practical and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

What recent assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of the ending of support payments on the provision of combined cadet forces in state schools.

The government, through the Ministry of Defence, provides in the region of £180 million to support cadets schemes. The Department for Education has contributed up to £1.1 million annually since the academic year 2021/22. This has provided some additional funding to support cadet expansion in the form of the school staff instructor (SSI) grant. This has been distributed to 230 state schools.Due to the current challenging fiscal context the government is having to take difficult decisions to ensure the stability of the economy and, while the importance of cadets is being recognised by continued support for cadet units through core funding provided by the Ministry of Defence, the department has had to take the difficult decision to not extend the additional SSI grant into this academic year. All schools in receipt of the SSI grant have been informed. The cadet expansion programme will continue to be delivered and receive £3.6 million in government funding for this academic year. This £3.6 million per year funding is within the Ministry of Defence’s annual budget cycle settlement showing a profile out to financial year 2033/2034. This funding goes to the single Service (Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force) cadet organisations to provide funding for cadet expansion in schools.

How many and what proportion of people claiming Income Support were (a) born and (b) not born in the UK.

The Department does not routinely collect data on the country of birth of individuals claiming any benefits. DWP policy responsibility lies in establishing a customer’s eligibility to claim benefits. An individual’s specific country of birth does not play a role in this and the Department therefore does not collect the country of birth information at the point of benefit claim.