Written questions by Gill.

What the median hourly pay of Muslims was in each of the last five years.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 20th May is attached.

If he will estimate the median hourly pay of Sikhs in each of the past five years.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 20th May is attached.

What the median hourly pay of people of Pakistani heritage was in each of the last five years.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 20th May is attached.

How many people are employed in the Race Equality Unit; and how many of those people identify to each religious group.

The Race Equality Unit currently employs 9 people. Due to the number of employees within the Race Equality Unit being below 10 we are unable to publish the ethnic group information as it would enable individuals to be identified.

How many people are employed in the Race Equality Unit; and if she will publish the number of employees by ethnic group.

The Race Equality Unit currently employs 9 people. Due to the number of employees within the Race Equality Unit being below 10 we are unable to publish the ethnic group information as it would enable individuals to be identified.

What information the NHS holds on the number of Jewish people with breast cancer.

The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) in NHS England, as the national cancer registry, collects and analyses diagnosis and treatment data on cancer patients in England. Further information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrsThe NDRS does not record patients’ religion as part of cancer registration data. Additionally, in line with guidance from the Office for National Statistics and the National Health Service, ethnicity data is collected using standardised categories that do not separately identify Jewish ethnicity. Further information on the classification of ethnic groups can be found at the following link:https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/style-guide/ethnic-groups

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the amount of funding available to support cooperative models in international development programmes.

The Government recognises the important contribution cooperatives have made in serving local communities around the world. Cooperatives are a tried-and-tested model in international development, that can enable citizens and producers to access services or markets and strengthen their voice in local processes. Cooperatives can enable sustainable and inclusive development centred on self-help, democratic ownership, and concern for the community. The UK has supported cooperatives and producer organisations in developing countries, including, for example in agriculture through funding to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP), which supports producer organisations, and the Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness Programme (CASA), which partners with cooperatives and small agribusinesses in low-income countries to improve smallholder farmers' access to markets.

What information his Department holds on the number of Jewish people who are on the register waiting for a transplant.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) manages transplant services across the United Kingdom, and this includes the operation of the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR).NHSBT does not collect data on the religion of those on the transplant waiting list. The information available on annual activity and the current waiting list is captured in the NHSBT Annual Activity Report, available on the NHSBT organ donation and transplantation website, which is available at the following link:https://www.odt.nhs.uk/Individuals can choose to provide details of their faith or beliefs when registering on the ODR via the NHSBT webpage. Some sources of registration onto the ODR do not have an option to record or report religion. As of 29 April 2025, where religion was reported, there were:23,629 registrations on the ODR which identified as Sikh, comprising of 11,684 Opt-In registrations and 11,945 Opt-out registrations; and43,562 registrations on the ODR which identified as Jewish, comprising of 9,499 Opt-in registrations and 34,063 Opt-out registrations.

What information his Department holds on the number of Sikhs who are on the register waiting for a transplant.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) manages transplant services across the United Kingdom, and this includes the operation of the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR).NHSBT does not collect data on the religion of those on the transplant waiting list. The information available on annual activity and the current waiting list is captured in the NHSBT Annual Activity Report, available on the NHSBT organ donation and transplantation website, which is available at the following link:https://www.odt.nhs.uk/Individuals can choose to provide details of their faith or beliefs when registering on the ODR via the NHSBT webpage. Some sources of registration onto the ODR do not have an option to record or report religion. As of 29 April 2025, where religion was reported, there were:23,629 registrations on the ODR which identified as Sikh, comprising of 11,684 Opt-In registrations and 11,945 Opt-out registrations; and43,562 registrations on the ODR which identified as Jewish, comprising of 9,499 Opt-in registrations and 34,063 Opt-out registrations.

What information his Department holds on the number of Sikhs who have liver disease according to the NHS.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities publishes mortality data and National Health Service hospital admission rates related to liver disease in England, in public health profiles. There is no data available for the number of Sikhs who have liver disease specifically.

Whether his Department collects data on the number of people registered as organ donors who are (a) Sikh and (b) Jewish.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) manages transplant services across the United Kingdom, and this includes the operation of the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR).NHSBT does not collect data on the religion of those on the transplant waiting list. The information available on annual activity and the current waiting list is captured in the NHSBT Annual Activity Report, available on the NHSBT organ donation and transplantation website, which is available at the following link:https://www.odt.nhs.uk/Individuals can choose to provide details of their faith or beliefs when registering on the ODR via the NHSBT webpage. Some sources of registration onto the ODR do not have an option to record or report religion. As of 29 April 2025, where religion was reported, there were:23,629 registrations on the ODR which identified as Sikh, comprising of 11,684 Opt-In registrations and 11,945 Opt-out registrations; and43,562 registrations on the ODR which identified as Jewish, comprising of 9,499 Opt-in registrations and 34,063 Opt-out registrations.

How many deaths by suicide were recorded among Sikhs in each of the last five years.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 28th April is attached.

What information his Department holds on the number of Jewish women who have breast cancer according to the NHS.

The information is not held in the format requested.

How many people are receiving support through the Healthy Start scheme in Birmingham Edgbaston constituency.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Monthly figures for the number of people on the digital Healthy Start scheme are published on the NHS Healthy Start website, which is available at the following link:https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthcare-professionals/The NHSBSA does not hold data on local constituencies. The following two tables show the number of people on the digital scheme in March 2025 for all ward areas in Birmingham, and in the ward of Edgbaston specifically: MonthLocal authorityPeople on the digital schemeMarch 2025Birmingham12,820 MonthWardPeople on the digital schemeMarch 2025Edgbaston186

Media and Sport, which listed places of worship have received grants under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme in in Birmingham Edgbaston constituency since the inception of that scheme.

Reliable data from before 2022 is not available, but since August 2022, 8 listed places of worship have received awards to a total value of £46,074.27 through the grant scheme in the Birmingham Edgbaston constituency. These were St Germain’s Church receiving £35,316.97; St Augustine’s of Hippo Church receiving £2,922.10; St Peter’s Church receiving £2,513.00; St George’s Church receiving £2,057.68; Oasis Church receiving £1,283.18; Saint Bartholomew receiving £1,133.00; Methodist Church South Street receiving £698.34; and St Faith & St Laurence Church receiving £150.00.

How many and what proportion of five year olds were school ready in (a) Birmingham Edgbaston constituency, (b) Birmingham and (c) the West Midlands in each of the last 10 years.

Children’s early years are crucial to their development, health and life chances. That is why the department’s Plan for Change set out our ambition for a record proportion of children starting school ready to learn in the classroom. We will measure our progress through 75% of children reaching a good level of development in the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile assessment by 2028.The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile was significantly revised in September 2021. It is therefore not possible to directly compare assessment outcomes since 2021/22 with earlier years.The department has published data through the early years foundation stage teacher assessment since 2021/2022 which can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/early-years-foundation-stage-profile-results/2023-24.Local authority and regional data from 2013 to 2019 can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/early-years-foundation-stage-profile-results-2018-to-2019.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) practical and (b) theory driving (i) lessons and (ii) tests are accessible for people who are d/Deaf.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) works with publishing partners, the Stationary Office, to publish The Highway Code and other materials to help people when learning to drive. The DVSA wants the content it produces to be as accessible as possible to everyone.When booking a theory or practical test, candidates are advised to say if they have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition.DVSA has recently worked with Cabinet Office to identify how the customer journey can be improved for d/Deaf candidates working towards their theory test. As a result, DVSA will be introducing improvements to British Sign Language (BSL) learning, theory test content, the theory test booking journey (including using BSL), and the experience at the theory test centre.Candidates can already take their theory test in BSL if they are d/Deaf or have a hearing impairment; a BSL video appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.Other options for theory test candidates include:having a sign language interpreter or lip speaker with them during the testusing a listening aid (hearing loop)It usually helps BSL users to learn their theory with a d/Deaf-aware driving instructor. The Disabled Driving Instructors association can help d/Deaf people with learning to drive and can be accessed at: www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com/driving-advice/hearing-difficultiesWhen taking a car practical driving test, candidates can use a BSL interpreter, who can also be their driving instructor.When taking the test, the driving examiner can use prompt cards to support a candidate that is d/Deaf or has hearing loss. These prompt cards give short written instructions and diagrams, so candidates know what they need to do.These prompt cards are published on GOV.UK so learners can familiarise themselves with them before the test, and so that driving instructors can use them as part of their training or mock tests. Driving tests: prompt cards to support learner drivers who are deaf - GOV.UK.

How many firearms-related offences there were by the type of offence in (a) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands in each of the last five years.

The Home Office collects and publishes official statistics on offences involving firearms recorded by the police in England and Wales at the Police Force Area level.These data, by offence group and type of weapon, are published in Open Data Tables, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6793b6b48a0829895f24bf55/prc-firearms-open-data-march2009-onwards-300125.ods

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made in efforts to decrease the number of instances of persecution on Bahai communities.

The UK champions, and remains strongly committed to, freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. Working with the Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, we are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral organisations, our bilateral work, and our programme funding,The continued persecution of the Baha'i community including in Iran and Yemen, including unfair arrest and detention, land grabs, and denial of burial rights, is unacceptable. We are committed to working with international partners to hold countries to account for repression of the Bahai's, and other religious or belief minorities, including at the United Nations.

What resources and support are available to people who are d/Deaf (a) in preparation for and (b) during their driving (i) theory and (ii) practical tests.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) works with publishing partners, the Stationary Office, to publish The Highway Code and other materials to help people when learning to drive. The DVSA wants the content it produces to be as accessible as possible to everyone.When booking a theory or practical test, candidates are advised to say if they have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition.DVSA has recently worked with Cabinet Office to identify how the customer journey can be improved for d/Deaf candidates working towards their theory test. As a result, DVSA will be introducing improvements to British Sign Language (BSL) learning, theory test content, the theory test booking journey (including using BSL), and the experience at the theory test centre.Candidates can already take their theory test in BSL if they are d/Deaf or have a hearing impairment; a BSL video appears on the screen next to the questions and answers.Other options for theory test candidates include:having a sign language interpreter or lip speaker with them during the testusing a listening aid (hearing loop)It usually helps BSL users to learn their theory with a d/Deaf-aware driving instructor. The Disabled Driving Instructors association can help d/Deaf people with learning to drive and can be accessed at: www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com/driving-advice/hearing-difficultiesWhen taking a car practical driving test, candidates can use a BSL interpreter, who can also be their driving instructor.When taking the test, the driving examiner can use prompt cards to support a candidate that is d/Deaf or has hearing loss. These prompt cards give short written instructions and diagrams, so candidates know what they need to do.These prompt cards are published on GOV.UK so learners can familiarise themselves with them before the test, and so that driving instructors can use them as part of their training or mock tests. Driving tests: prompt cards to support learner drivers who are deaf - GOV.UK.