Written questions by Holden.

For what reason her Department’s online complaints process does not provide an acknowledgment or reference number upon submission.

DWP’s online complaints portal provides an automatic acknowledgement on receipt of all complaints, however, does not generate a complaint reference number at this stage. This is because the department handles all complaints initially through its early resolution process. All complaints go to the appropriate business area to attempt early resolution for the customer. The department only generates a complaints reference number, when we have been unable to resolve a complaint through our early resolution process and it is escalated to DWP’s Complaint teams. There should be no reason why the online complaint portal would not provide an acknowledgement on submission, as it is automatically set up to do so.There are no plans to reform the department’s complaints processes to enable the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to intervene earlier in cases that have experienced delays. The department informs the customer if there is likely to be a delay within the complaints process. If a customer is dissatisfied with DWP’s final complaints response they can escalate their complaint to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) who is the first point in the department’s escalation process.

Whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the Third Report of Session 2024-25 of the Standards Committee, Register of Interests of Members' Staff, published on 12 June 2025, HC 943.

I have responded to the Committee on Standards, welcoming its report (HC 943) and confirming that the relevant motion will be brought forward in due course for the approval of the House.

What steps he is taking to improve Departmental compliance with Open Government Partnership data requirements on property condition reporting.

There are no specific data requirements under the UK’s membership of the international Open Government Partnership (OGP) relating to property condition reporting. The Government Property Data Standard (GPDS), specified by the government’s functional lead for property, the Office of Government Property (OGP), within the Cabinet Office, does include a defined building condition metric. The Government Property Data Standard is mandated for use across all central government departments. The standard currently includes requirements for reporting on building condition metrics using a four-tier rating system. Departments are expected to report against this standard as part of business-as-usual property data returns. Plans are underway to improve the quality of this data and work towards making condition data publicly available in due course.

What steps she is taking to ensure that schools are informed when a pupil's parent is sent to prison.

The government has a key mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child, which is why the department is committed to identifying children affected by parental imprisonment and ensuring they get the community support they need to thrive.Our approach to recognising children affected by parental imprisonment must be sensitive, child and family-focused, and in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.​We will continue to engage schools, children with lived experience of parental imprisonment, local authorities and charities, alongside other external stakeholders with a broad range of expertise, to help shape our policy to better identify and support children affected by parental imprisonment.​

How many and what proportion of people aged (a) between 16 and 24 and (b) over 16 are unemployed in Basildon and Billericay constituency; and how many and what proportion were unemployed in June 2024.

The latest information requested is published and available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp Guidance for users can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on introducing a formal duty to the criminal justice system to notify (a) schools and (b) local safeguarding boards when the parent of a child aged 18 or under is imprisoned.

The Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice are working closely to deliver our joint manifesto commitment to identify children affected by parental imprisonment and ensure they get the support they need to thrive. We understand the importance of driving action on this important agenda and we are working with a wide range of stakeholders, including people with lived experience, schools and those with expertise in safeguarding, to ensure we take a child-centred, trauma-informed and age-appropriate approach.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16525 on Guardianship and Parents: Prisoners, what recent progress her Department has made with the Ministry of Justice to effectively identify children of prisoners.

Officials at the Department for Education (DfE) and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) continue to work closely together to deliver on our manifesto commitment to identify children affected by parental imprisonment and ensure they get the support they need to thrive.We recognise that our approach to identification must be a sensitive one and link to an informed, consistent and sustainable nationwide support offer.Our departments have engaged a broad range of external stakeholders with a variety of expertise to help inform our policy development and will continue to do so as our work on this commitment progresses.In April 2025 DfE and MoJ Ministers co-chaired a roundtable meeting and brought together those with lived experience of parental imprisonment, expertise on local authority family support, safeguarding, prisons, housing, social work, courts and schools.A cross-government workshop in June 2025 gathered officials from a range of government departments.Officials from both DfE and MoJ have also visited local authorities, met with children and their families in the community, with parents and social workers in prisons, and participated in several focus groups.

Whether his Department plans to take steps to expand the method by which UK companies can appeal decisions made by the government under the powers of the National Security and Investment Act.

Decisions made under the Act may be subject to judicial review. The Government currently has no plans to change this. All acquisitions considered under the NSI Act are assessed on a case by case basis, taking account of all relevant considerations.

Whether the government has altered its risk assessment criteria for foreign-state linked acquisition companies under the National Security and Investment Act since 5 July 2024.

Decisions made under the Act may be subject to judicial review. The Government currently has no plans to change this. All acquisitions considered under the NSI Act are assessed on a case by case basis, taking account of all relevant considerations.

What information his Department holds on the number of foreign owned companies using shell companies in an attempt to bypass the National Security and Investment Act since 5 July 2024.

I refer the Rt Hon member to the answer given on 22 May in response to question 54012.

How many (a) private education providers have closed and (b) early years places have been removed in each of the last 12 months.

The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity.The department does not collect this data on a monthly basis. According to the department’s most recent Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey, approximately 1,200 private nurseries closed between 2023 and 2024. In the same period around 800 new private nurseries entered the market, giving a net closures number of approximately 400. However, recent Ofsted data shows that the number of childcare places in the UK is increasing. As of the latest survey in 2024, there were approximately 1,602,500 registered childcare places, an increase of 1,370 places from March 2023.

What guidance her Department issues to schools on identifying and supporting children whose parents are in custody; whether there is any additional guidance when no formal notification is received from other agencies.

The government has a key mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child, which is why we are committed to identifying children affected by parental imprisonment and ensuring they get the community support they need to thrive.This government recognises the impact that a parent going to prison could have on a child’s learning, behaviour, mental health and wellbeing. We also recognise that support should be based on children's individual needs, which may change over time.The department sets out in the ‘Keeping children safe in education’ statutory guidance for schools and colleges that staff should consider the additional needs of children with a family member or parent in prison. The guidance highlights the risk of poor outcomes including poverty, stigma, isolation and poor mental health.Parental imprisonment is a sensitive issue, and officials from both the Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice are working with a wide range of stakeholders, including people with lived experience, to ensure that any future guidance issued sets out a child-centred, trauma-informed and age-appropriate approach. Exact details of how this will work in practice will be confirmed in due course.

Whether he plans to lay a new Official Statistics Order to include the Passenger Standards Authority.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 16th June is attached.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question HL6032 on Arms Length Bodies, what the target date is for each of those bodies listed in the answer to be operational.

The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate, nor hold information on when proposed arm’s-length bodies will be operational. Departments are responsible for setting target dates for the establishment of their proposed new bodies.

What steps she is taking to (a) reduce the potential impact of a parent's imprisonment on the educational attainment of their child and (b) ensure that children with a parent in prison are being considered in school safeguarding assessments.

The department has a key mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child, which is why we are committed to identifying children affected by parental imprisonment and ensuring they get the community support they need to thrive.The department also recognises that support should be based on the individual needs of the child, not solely on having a parent in prison. That is why our approach is focussed on equipping early years settings, schools and local authorities to respond to children’s needs in a trauma-informed way, with compassionate support from trained professionals.Improving attendance in educational settings, to enable all children to achieve and thrive, is a top priority for the government. We are providing schools and teachers with world-leading data tools, empowering them to identify quickly children who are at risk of non-attendance and put the right support in place.The ‘Working together to safeguard children’ statutory guidance is clear that anyone who has concerns about a child’s welfare should make a referral to local authority children’s social care. Children’s circumstances vary considerably, and local agencies are best placed to determine what support is needed.

Whether he plans to establish a social value council.

The Government is determined to ensure the £385 billion of public money spent on public procurement annually delivers economic growth, supports small businesses, champions innovation, creates good jobs and skills opportunities across the country, and maximises social value. To build on progress made to date and the Government’s new National Procurement Policy Statement, we will consult with stakeholders on further reforms to public procurement to drive economic growth and support jobs and skills.

What discussions her Department has had the (a) Ministry of Justice, (b) Home Office, (c) ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government on improving information sharing between (i) prisons, (ii) the police, (iii) courts, (iv) social services, (v) local housing authorities and (vi) schools when a parent is sentenced to custody.

Officials at the Department for Education (DfE) and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) are working closely to deliver on the government’s manifesto commitment to identify children affected by parental imprisonment so as to ensure they get the support they need to achieve and thrive.In April 2025 a Ministerial roundtable meeting brought together those with lived experience of parental imprisonment, expertise on local authority family support, safeguarding, prisons, housing, social work, courts and schools.A cross-government workshop in June 2025 brought together officials from several other government departments. Officials from both the DfE and MoJ have visited local authorities, met with children and their families in the community, with parents and social workers in prisons, and participated in several focus groups.The department will continue to engage external stakeholders with a broad range of expertise to help shape our policy to better identify and support children affected by parental imprisonment.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 5278 on Cabinet Office: Departmental responsibilities, whether he plans to further transfer Cabinet Office functions or agencies to other departments.

In addition to the Machinery of Government changes set out in the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 5278, there have been two further Written Ministerial Statements on changes which affect the Cabinet Office: On 17 January 2025, it was announced that responsibility for all of the Infrastructure and Project Authority’s functions and responsibilities, including the Government’s project delivery expertise and functions, and assurance reviews for the Government’s largest projects, will move from the Cabinet Office to HM Treasury.On 3 June 2025, it was announced that responsibility for government and public sector cyber security will move from the Cabinet Office to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Any other such changes would be announced in the normal way.

How many Universities have received emergency funding from the Government since 4 July 2024; and how much money has been provided as part of that process.

The government has not provided emergency funding to any university since 4 July 2024.Universities are independent from government and as such must continue to make the necessary financial decisions to ensure their long-term sustainability. If a university was at risk of failure, the department would work with the Office for Students (OfS) to ensure that students are protected, recognising the significant impact university closure would have on their future. The government reserves the right to intervene to protect students’ interests, if necessary.While the sector is autonomous, we are committed to creating a secure future for our world-leading universities.To support universities in stabilising their financial positions, the OfS will continue dedicating significant resources to ensuring the sector's financial sustainability. The department has appointed Professor Edward Peck as the substantive Chair of the OfS, where he will play a key role in strengthening this commitment, while also expanding opportunities in higher education (HE).Additionally, we have made the difficult decision to increase tuition fee limits by 3.1% (in line with inflation) from the 2025/26 academic year.

What progress NHS England has made on sharing data about patients who (a) received a blood transfusion before 1996 and (b) have tested positive for (i) HIV and (ii) Hepatitis C with the Independent Contaminated Blood Authority.

NHS England is supporting the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) with their engagement with National Health Service organisations for the purposes of sharing data on patients who received a blood transfusion before 1996 and who have tested positive for HIV or hepatitis C, to support compensation claims.This support includes highlighting the requirement to provide information promptly to the IBCA to support claims, conducting workshops to understand how the IBCA can most effectively gather information from NHS organisations, and drafting guidance for patients, clinicians, and information governance professionals so that NHS organisations feel confident about sharing information to support claims.