Written questions by Holden.

If he will publish a table of the number of (a) doctors, (b) registered nurses and (c) medical scientists were employed as locums in each (i) month and (ii) year since 2021 and what the total cost was for each group in each of those (A) months and (B) years.

The Department does not hold the information requested. NHS England publishes quarterly information on total agency and bank expenditure by National Health Service providers as part of financial reporting, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/financial-performance-reportsThe 2025/26 NHS Planning Guidance states that trusts should reduce their agency spend by a minimum of 30% and bank spend by a minimum of 10%. The accompanying Revenue Finance and Contracting Guidance sets the ambition that agency spend should be eliminated in the coming years.

How many officials in (a) his Department and (b) predecessors to his Department have worked in roles relating to international trade in each of the last 27 years.

The information is not readily available or held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on establishing a permanent secretariat for the CPTPP in the UK.

Ministers and Senior Officials meet regularly with their counterparts to discuss CPTPP issues. In November last year, CPTPP Ministers, including the UK, agreed the Vancouver Statement, providing an interim report on the CPTPP General Review. This covered a number of recommendations for taking the review forward, including a proposal for further discussions around improving the effective implementation and operation of the Agreement. The Statement noted that ‘these discussions should cover a range of approaches, including, but not limited to, the possible establishment of a secretariat’. The UK will continue to engage in such discussions with other CPTPP Parties under the auspices of the General Review in the coming year.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her regulatory policies of the use of category C gaming tablets by high street casinos, in the context of regulations on combined numbers of category B3 and C machines.

No more than 20% of the total number of gaming machines made available for use in an adult gaming centre or licensed bingo premises are permitted to be Category B machines. The other gaming machines made available for use must be Category C machines or Category D machines. This rule is known as the ‘80/20 rule'. It does not apply to casinos or other land-based gambling venues.The Gambling Commission provides guidance around the circumstances in which a machine is available for use, which sets out when a machine can count towards the 80/20 rule. The guidance notes that in relation to tablets, licensees should ensure that there is sufficient floorspace in the premises to permit counted tablets to be used simultaneously.We are considering the best available evidence from a wide range of sources to inform our decisions on the proposals in the previous government’s 2023 gambling white paper, including proposed changes to the 80/20 rule.

Whether his Department has undertaken an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Trade Commissioners programme since it was established.

His Majesty’s Trade Commissioners (HMTCs) represent and promote the UK in markets across the world. They lead on export promotion, both inward and outward investment, and trade policy overseas on behalf of His Majesty’s Government (HMG). Their work includes developing regional plans to deliver the Department for Business and Trade’s priorities in global markets and then leading their teams to deliver those priorities.HMTCs are an important part of the department’s regional leadership rather than a programme, so are not subject to programme evaluation.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of ending the vetting transformation programme on (a) national security and (b) staff recruitment delays.

The security of our people, assets and information is a Government priority.The Vetting Transformation Programme (VTP) was first announced in October 2020. The programme was subject of a number of reviews and audits under the previous administration, including by the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) and Cabinet Office Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Hub. These reviews concluded that there were weaknesses in governance and stakeholder engagement. As a result, the programme was closed in September 2024.In its place, this Government is undertaking a range of initiatives to modernise and improve vetting services, delivered through three core workstreams:1. Rationalising Policy and Process - Government Security Group (GSG) and UK Security Vetting are working with departments to standardise and centralise decision making.2. Enhancing Digital and Cyber Security - UKSV are currently in the process of migrating the National Security Vetting System (NSVS) platform to the cloud to enhance the reliability of the current service and bring capabilities in line with industry best practice.3. Increasing Assurance - GSG and UKSV are moving to an approach of continuous improvement across the assurance offered by vetting investigations.In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.

If he will take steps to amend paragraph 8.13 of the Ministerial Code, published on 6 November 2024, to provide guidance on whether meetings with social media organisations should be published on a quarterly basis.

Details of ministers’ and senior officials’ official meetings with external individuals and organisations, including with social media organisations, are already published on a quarterly basis. Data for the period of July to September 2024 was published by departments on the 30th January 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2024 to Question 4669 on Senior Civil Servants: Recruitment, whether his policy on collation of data for Senior Civil Service appointments has changed since July 2024.

The policy on collation of data for senior civil service appointments across government remains the same as when the Rt Hon member was in Cabinet Office.

Media and Sport, with reference to UK Music’s blog post entitled UK Music & Tik Tok Party at Labour Conference 2024, published in 2024, whether her attendance at the UK Music and Tik Tok party will be declared in her Department’s Ministerial hospitality reporting.

In accordance with the Ministers’ Transparency Guidance, Departments should not include hospitality received by ministers in their capacity as an MP in a constituency or party- political capacity in Ministers’ declarations.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to (a) improve cross-Departmental working and (b) provide funding for multi-agency teams to help support (i) early interventions and (ii) other programmes for young people at risk of homelessness, abuse and exploitation.

The government is committed to tackling abuse, exploitation, and homelessness through cross-departmental working. The Department for Education, with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Home Office, and the Department of Health and Social Care have a shared commitment through the opportunity mission to improve outcomes for children. From April, over £500 million will be made available to local authorities for Family Help, multi-agency child protection, and Family Network reforms, doubling investment in preventative services by 2025/26. Additionally, £15 million from the Shared Outcomes Fund will support multi-disciplinary teams providing holistic support to children at risk of violence and exploitation through the Support, Attain, Fulfil, Exceed (SAFE) and Alternative Provision taskforces. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced on 17 December, aims to improve information sharing across agencies and strengthen the role of education in safeguarding. The Bill mandates the establishment of multi-agency child protection teams in every local area and includes measures for better planning and support for care leavers. Regulations will be amended to ensure care leavers cannot be found intentionally homeless. On 16 January, my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary also made a statement that before Easter, the government will announce a timetable for implementing recommendations from the final Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and their standalone report on grooming gangs, with updates to key departmental guidance on child sexual exploitation.

What steps her Department is taking through (a) Young Futures Hubs and (b) Young Futures Prevention Partnerships to help tackle violence against women and girls.

The Government has set an ambitious target to halve VAWG in a decade. To achieve this, we must reduce the current levels of offending and reoffending but also prevent abuse from happening altogether.This focus on prevention also sits at the heart of the Young Futures Programme, which will establish a network of Young Futures Hubs and Young Futures Prevention Partnerships.Young Futures Prevention Partnerships will bring local partners together to ensure children at risk of being drawn into knife crime, anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls are identified earlier and offered support in a more systematic way.Young Futures Hubs will bring together services to improve access to opportunities and support for young people at community level, promoting positive outcomes and enabling them to thrive.Officials across Government are working together, using evidence of what works, to start to shape how the Young Futures Hubs will work in practice.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press release entitled Shake up of tech and AI usage across NHS and other public services to deliver plan for change, published on 21 January 2025, on what evidential basis the press release said that removing the need to queue to register a death would boost growth.

There was an initial error in publishing on GOV.UK which omitted the reference below to getting driving licences for lorries. This has now been amended.The press notice that was distributed to journalists read as follows:“It will do away with insensitive and antiquated processes that have been holding this country back for too long. That means scrapping the need for people to queue at the local council to register the death of a loved one, and doing away with the need to post an advert in your local paper if you want to get a license to drive a lorry – getting in the way of growth.”

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 26566 on Special Educational Needs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of lockdown restrictions during the covid-19 pandemic on the (a) behaviour, (b) special educational needs requirements and (c) primary socialisation of school children; and what steps she is taking to help support those children.

The UK Covid Inquiry was set up to examine the UK's response to and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to learn lessons for the future. The government is committed to learning from the findings of the Covid Inquiry, which will play a key role in informing the government’s planning and preparations for a future pandemic.The pandemic affected all pupils, particularly those that are disadvantaged, leading to dips in attainment and a substantial widening of the gaps between disadvantaged children and their peers. Prolonged periods of absence from schools and colleges may have also contributed to disengagement whilst at school and increased incidents of misbehaviour. The department has also seen more children starting primary schools without basic levels of development, meaning that teachers cannot focus on teaching, impacting all children in the class.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 902578 on Marriage: Relatives, what her Department's timetable is for the consideration of the Law Commission’s 2022 wedding report.

The Law Commission set out that its recommendations would provide greater choice for couples in deciding how and where they get married. Marriage will always be one of our most important institutions and we must consider any recommendations to change weddings law carefully, including in relation to cousin marriage.We will take the time to properly consider their report before setting out our position in the coming months.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on the potential merits of banning first cousin marriage.

As I stated in my answer of 5 February, the Government will consider existing marriage law, including the Law Commission’s 2022 wedding report, before publicly setting out a position on this important issue.

How many cases relating to breaches of covid-19 laws are (a) awaiting and (b) ongoing in (i) Crown and (ii) magistrates courts.

According to the best available data from our live management information systems, there are 114 outstanding cases in the magistrates court under Coronavirus Offences as at 30 September 2024. There are no cases awaiting trial or sentencing at the Crown Court (although there are 3 appeals against magistrate court decisions there).

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26918 on Prisons: Construction, what estimate he has made of the total operating capacity of prisons following the end of (a) the £2.3 billion for prison builds over the next two years, (b) 2031 and (c) 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy.

On 11 December 2024, the Secretary of State published the 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy, alongside the Annual Statement regarding prison capacity. In the 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy, this Government has signalled plans to invest up to £2.3 billion in prison expansion in 2024-25 and 2025-26, including HMP Millsike that will deliver c.1,500 places. Delivering c.6,500 new prison places, is only one part of our wider aim to build 14,000 prison places by 2031, with all places expected to be operational by 2032. We will also be expanding the current prison estate, adding around 6,400 prison places through houseblocks at existing sites, whilst also refurbishing residential units, facilities and ancillaries across the estate, alongside around 1,000 more Rapid Deployment Cells. Our strategy also sets out the need to change the way that we expand the prison estate by aiming to buy new land for prison development and introduce planning legislation to build prisons faster. The detailed information on projections for supply of new prison places can be found in the strategy and Annual Statement.

Media and Sport, how many large technology firms she has met since her appointment; and how many times she has met (a) small companies and (b) groups representing small challenger technology firms.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26918 on Prisons: Construction, how many existing cells had additional beds installed to increase capacity between (a) May 1997 and May 2010 and (b) May 2010 and July 2024; how many prison places were removed in prisons that closed in the same period; and where those closed prisons were.

Data on the number of cells which had additional beds installed is not held by the Ministry of Justice for the period requested. Prison crowding data is published annually in Annex 2 of the HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2023 to March 2024 - GOV.UK. This publication provides the percentage of prisoners held in crowded accommodation in each year in each prison since 1999. There is no earlier information on crowding available. Available records indicate that, between May 1997 and May 2010, the total operational capacity of the prison system increased from 61,927 to 89,757, a net increase of 27,830 places. This is a net figure that takes into account all decreases including prison closures, and all increases including new accommodation or crowding of existing accommodation. Data on the number of places removed from prison closures during this period is not held by the Ministry of Justice.The net change in prison operational capacity between May 2010 and April 2024 was c500 places. The requested information on prison closures between May 2010 and July 2024 has been provided in a table below:PrisonNumber of Prison Places ClosedYearAshwell-2142011Lancaster Castle-2432011Brockhill (Part of Hewell)-1702011Latchmere House-2072011Wellingborough-5882012Camp Hill (Part of Isle of Wight)-5952013Gloucester-3212013Canterbury-3142013Shrewsbury-3412013Bullwood Hall-2282013Kingston-2052013Shepton Mallet-1892013Northallerton-2522013Reading-3202013Dorchester-2912013Blundeston-5262013Blantyre House-1222015Haslar-1972015Dover-4012015Holloway-5912016Kennet-3422016Glen Parva-6382017Hewell Grange (Part of Hewell)-2242020Total-7519 Our recently announced 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy outlines a target of 14,000 new prison places by 2031, supported by £2.3 billion in funding for prison builds over the next two years.

With reference to the guidance entitled Public Sector Equality Duty: guidance for public authorities, published on 18 December 2023, and pursuant to the letter from the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Business and Trade to economic regulators referenced in the Answer of 24 January 2024 to Question 24447 on Economic Growth: Regulation, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that regulators do not try to impose the public sector equality duty on private companies.

The Public Sector Equality Duty (the PSED) requires organisations in scope to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different people.The scope of the PSED is set out in the Equality Act 2010 (the Act). It extends to all public authorities listed in Schedule 19 of the Act and all parties carrying out public functions. This includes private sector and voluntary organisations when carrying out public functions.The government expects regulators to ensure organisations comply with their legal requirements. It is not the role of regulators to intervene where legal requirements do not apply and we have no evidence that this is occurring.