Written questions by Holden.

When she will establish a statutory mechanism to (a) identify and (b) support children with a parent in prison.

The department knows growing up with a parent in prison can have a devastating impact on a child’s life chances. The government has a key mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child, which is why we have committed to identifying children affected by parental imprisonment and ensuring they get the support they need to thrive.The department is working closely with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to deliver the government’s manifesto commitment. MoJ is leading on the work to better identify children affected by parental imprisonment. The department is working alongside the MoJ to determine how best to effectively identify and support this cohort.We are clear that our approach to identification must be a sensitive one and link to a consistent nationwide support offer, so that children affected by this issue receive swift, appropriate support that meets their individual needs.We are engaging with a range of stakeholders and experts to support the development of our proposals and delivery plans.

What discussions he has had with the Infected Blood Inquiry on effectively sharing data with the Independent Blood Compensation Agency to help (a) increase the speed at which claims can be processed and (b) prevent fraud.

As the sponsor Minister for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, I stand ready to help and assist in any way I can to speed up the payments. I am restless for the speed of delivery to increase, including considering what data could be identified to help process claims quickly, while always respecting IBCA’s operational independence and the need to prevent fraud.

Whether she plans to bring forward (a) legislative and (b) policy proposals to help support the children of prisoners.

This Government recognises that having a parent in prison is considered an adverse childhood experience and can have a significant impact on a child’s life chances. We have therefore committed to ensuring that children impacted by parental imprisonment are identified and offered the support they need to address this.We are working closely with the Department for Education to drive action on this important agenda. Ministers from both the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Education recently hosted a roundtable bringing together sector experts. Officials from both Departments have attended focus groups to hear directly from those with lived experience of parental imprisonment, so that their voices can shape and inform the policy proposals we will bring forward.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish his Department's style guide for answering written Parliamentary questions; and if he will publish (a) the style guide that was in use on and (b) any other style guide used since 3 July 2024.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given on 12 June 2025 to PQ 57805.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of rehoming (a) organisations and (b) centres that are operating (i) with and (ii) without a licence.

Defra does not hold a central list of rehoming centres or rescue organisations.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts in the (a) Scottish, (b) Welsh and (c) Northern Irish governments on the potential merits of extending licensing requirements to include (i) animal welfare establishments and (ii) rehoming organisations.

Animal welfare is a devolved matter in the UK. This means that responsibility for animal welfare policy in the individual nations is the responsibility of the relevant nation’s Ministers. Defra engages regularly with its counterparts in the devolved administrations on animal welfare matters and takes their experience into account.

How many times he has taken a domestic flight for official travel purposes; which locations he has travelled to; and what the cost was for those flights.

Data on ministers’ travel is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/desnz-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings

What the threshold is for police to make a proactive disclosure under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme in the absence of a named child at immediate risk; and if she will review that threshold in the context of voluntary youth organisations.

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme was introduced in 2011 and allows members of the public to make an application to police for information about a person who has contact with a child. The police guidance for the Scheme was updated in April 2023, which both modernised the Scheme and also formalised the process by which the police can make proactive disclosures when they are in receipt of information about a risk to a child or children without the need for an application by a member of the public.The police have the common law power to disclose information about an individual where it is necessary to do so to protect another individual from harm. The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, including its proactive disclosure route, does not replace statutory safeguarding processes in place – such as the Disclosure and Barring Service, Subject Access requests, or Freedom of Information requests – and relevant referrals will still need to be made as required.That being said, through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are working to place the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme on a statutory footing. This will ensure that police officers follow published guidance as they consider the disclosure of information when they suspect someone might pose a risk of sexual harm.

Whether her Department holds data on the number of instances where police have been unable to disclose (a) cautions and (b) convictions for child sexual offences to voluntary youth organisations due to legal restrictions.

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme was introduced in 2011 and allows members of the public to make an application to police for information about a person who has contact with a child. The police guidance for the Scheme was updated in April 2023, which both modernised the Scheme and also formalised the process by which the police can make proactive disclosures when they are in receipt of information about a risk to a child or children without the need for an application by a member of the public.The police have the common law power to disclose information about an individual where it is necessary to do so to protect another individual from harm. The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, including its proactive disclosure route, does not replace statutory safeguarding processes in place – such as the Disclosure and Barring Service, Subject Access requests, or Freedom of Information requests – and relevant referrals will still need to be made as required.That being said, through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are working to place the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme on a statutory footing. This will ensure that police officers follow published guidance as they consider the disclosure of information when they suspect someone might pose a risk of sexual harm.

How many referrals made by police to Local Authority Designated Officers for concerns about people (a) working and (b) volunteering with children resulted in direct action being taken by the (i) local authority, (ii) employer and (iii) voluntary organisation in each of the last three years.

The department does not hold this information. Information about referrals to Local Authority Designated Officers (LADO) is held at a local level by individual police forces and the local authorities.The outcomes of LADO investigations are also held at local level and contained in the respective LADO annual reports. The department does not collate LADO annual reports and so does not have data on the action being taken by local authorities, employers and voluntary organisations within the last three years.Keeping children safe could not be more important to this government and we are swiftly acting to reform the child protection and safeguarding system.That is why the department is legislating through our Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to stop children falling through the cracks and to ensure they are not out of sight of those who can keep them safe.The department has also introduced a new mandatory reporting duty in the Crime and Policing Bill for individuals undertaking key roles with responsibility for children in England to report sexual abuse.

Whether any public body holds information on the pension liabilities of former UK Members of the European Parliament; and which public body administers those pensions.

The Trustees of the Consolidated Fund provide details of pension scheme liabilities for the European Parliamentary (United Kingdom Representatives) Pension Scheme, which was open to UK Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) elected up to 2009. This information is in the public domain.

Whether the National Security Adviser plays a role in the (a) recruitment and (b) selection of civil servants working on national security issues; and whether he has had discussions with the Civil Service Commission on this issue.

Special advisers are bound by the Special Adviser Code of Conduct which states they should not be involved in the line management of civil servants or in matters affecting a civil servant’s career such as recruitment, promotion, reward and discipline. The commission ensures the integrity of recruitment, including in the NSS, in the usual way.

If he will publish the (a) media grid and (b) media plan for the Government response to the Strategic Defence Review 2025.

Communications plans and products were drafted and issued in line with standard procedures. On Monday 2 June 2025, Ministers conducted 21 interviews with 16 outlets.

Whether the No10 (a) press office and (b) grid team were involved in releasing the Strategic Defence Review to the media.

The Strategic Defence Review was announced in Parliament on June 2 by my Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure greater transparency on the individual works of art displayed by public bodies from the Government Art Collection.

The Government Art Collection contains over 15,000 works of art which are displayed in UK government buildings in the UK, and in more than 125 countries around the world. All artworks in the Government Art Collection are listed online and their locations can be searched.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, whether there is a limit on the number of ordinary written parliamentary questions that Rt hon. and hon. Members can table in hard copy on a sitting day.

There is no limit to the number of questions for ordinary written answer which a Member may table in hard copy on each sitting day (see Erskine May, 25th Edition, paragraph 22.4).

Who the lead policy official is in 10 Downing Street.

The Director of the Policy Unit is the lead policy civil servant in the Prime Minister’s Office.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled CS EDI Expenditure Review Data, published on 29 May 2025, which external organisations provided consultancy to advice by third party providers in 2023-24.

The Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Review, which was commissioned by the previous administration, asked for consultancy expenditure. It did not collect specific information regarding consultancy providers.

Which aircraft from the RAF Command Support Aircraft Fleet are available for ministerial visits from across government; and what the call-signs are of each aircraft.

The Ministry of Defence provides two Envoy aircraft, for Ministerial visits from across Government. I am not prepared to release the details of the call-signs for security reasons.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 44962 on Government Departments: Cost Effectiveness, whether the 2025-26 baseline for the 15% saving in administration budgets includes departmental efficiency savings announced in July 2024.

The savings and efficiencies announced in July 2024 helped to address spending pressures identified through the public spending audit. These included a 2% savings against government administration budgets.In the Spring Statement, the Chancellor announced that all departments would be expected to make a 15% reduction in their administration budgets by 2029-30. This used 2025-26 budgets as published at Autumn Budget 24 as the baseline, which included in-year changes, for example employers’ National Insurance Contributions.