Written questions by Lowe.

Whether her Department can compel local authorities to release safeguarding files on group-based child sexual exploitation.

We will announce further details on the inquiry in due course.

If she will appoint a chair with no (a) political affiliation and (b) prior conflict to lead the grooming gang inquiry.

We will announce further details on the inquiry in due course.

Whether the grooming gang inquiry will release historic exploitation data back to the 1960s on a rolling basis.

We will announce further details on the inquiry in due course.

Whether the grooming gang inquiry will examine (a) internal police complaints, (b) whistleblower evidence and (c) deleted material on grooming gang investigations.

We will announce further details on the inquiry in due course.

How many victims of grooming gangs have applied for compensation; and how many have been rejected.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) deeply sympathises with all victims of sexual crimes and recognises the trauma suffered by victims of these abhorrent offences.CICA cannot provide figures about compensation to victims of grooming gangs. This is because awards of compensation under the statutory Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme are made for the physical and/or mental injuries sustained by the victim rather than the type of offence committed.Each claim for compensation is considered on its own facts and decided using all the information available from the applicant, the police, and other relevant sources.

Whether whistleblowers who were (a) disciplined, (b) dismissed and (c) ignored for raising concerns on grooming gangs will receive (i) an official apology and (ii) compensation.

We will announce further details on the inquiry in due course.

Whether the grooming gang inquiry will include the role of (a) ethnicity, (b) culture and (c) religion in (i) enabling and (ii) concealing group-based child sexual exploitation.

We will announce further details on the inquiry in due course.

If she will ensure that (a) FOI returns, (b) court transcripts, (c) internal memos, (d) inter-agency communications and (e) other evidence submitted to the grooming gang inquiry is published.

We will announce further details on the inquiry in due course.

Whether (a) independent whistleblowers, (b) frontline professionals, (c) survivor-led organisations and (d) journalists will be formally included in the grooming gang inquiry.

We will announce further details on the inquiry in due course.

Whether her Department has had discussions with counter-terrorism police on the potential impact of full-face coverings in public settings on national security.

The Home Office has regular and routine discussions with counter-terrorism policing on a wide range of national security issues.The Crime and Policing Bill contains a new criminal offence of wearing, or otherwise using, an item that conceals identity in an area designated by police due to the risk of criminal activity taking place at protests. This will enable the police to put a stop to individuals hiding behind masks to avoid conviction for criminal activity at protests.

What the average time was to obtain a UK driving test in each region in the most recent 12 months for which data is available; and what percentage of applicants were foreign nationals.

The table below shows the average waiting time for a car practical driving test by driving test centre regions, for the financial year 2024/25. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not collect any data regarding the customer's nationality when they book, or attend, their car practical driving test. RegionAverage Waiting Time In WeeksZone A (Scotland and North-East England)17.1Zone B (Wales and North-West England)17.5Zone C (Midlands and South-West England)21.6Zone D (London and South-East England)22.4National19.5

What proportion of immigration cases involve the use of interpretation services paid for by the state.

Obtaining the specific information requested would involve collating and verifying information from multiple systems owned by multiple teams across the Home Office and, therefore, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

How many fines were issued to parents for school absence in the last 12 months; and what the value was of those fines.

The most recent data held by the department covers the 2023/24 academic year and is available in the statistical release on parental responsibility measures, which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/parental-responsibility-measures/2023-24.The information requested covering the last 12 months is not held by the department. Data for 2024/25 will be published in early 2026.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of foreign nationals entering the UK as delivery drivers under temporary work schemes.

Under the current Immigration Rules, the UK operates no Temporary Work schemes that enable the recruitment of delivery drivers from overseas.

What the cost to the NHS was of missed appointments in 2024.

The Department does not hold data on the overall cost to the National Health Service of missed appointments.

How many NHS appointments were missed in the last 12-months.

The Department does not hold data on the number of missed appointments across the whole National Health Service. In the year from April 2024 to March 2025, the latest provisional data indicates that there were 8.1 million outpatient appointments not attended by the patient, representing 5.6% of all appointments.

How many and what proportion of religious institutions in the UK receive funding from foreign governments or entities, broken down by (a) religion and (b) source of funding.

Obtaining the specific information requested would involve collating and verifying information from multiple systems owned by multiple teams across various Government departments and, therefore, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

If she will introduce a minimum 5-year mandatory sentence for adults convicted of carrying a knife.

Tackling knife crime is a priority and this Government is determined to do all it can to break the deadly cycle of violence that devastates the lives of individuals, families, and communities. It is important that those who commit violent crimes receive appropriate, proportionate and robust sentences.Minimum sentences are rare in England and Wales. It is the function of the independent courts to decide the sentence in each case subject to the maximum that Parliament has provided and any relevant Sentencing Guidelines published by the Sentencing Council. We have a robust legal framework in place to respond to knife crimes with the maximum penalty for carrying a knife or threatening with an offensive weapon being 4 years imprisonment.In recognition of the seriousness of offences related to knives, the law already provides for minimum custodial sentences for repeat knife possession and offences that involve threatening with a weapon. Adults face a minimum of 6 months of imprisonment whilst young people aged 16 or 17 face a four-month Detention and Training Order. Where someone is actually harmed by a knife or offensive weapon, there are a range of offences that the offender may be charged with, such as causing grievous bodily harm. These can result in lengthy sentences, up to life imprisonment.

What proportion of NHS Trusts provide free parking to patients.

National Health Service trusts decide locally on whether they charge for parking on their sites. The published Estates Return Information Collection gives a breakdown of NHS trusts charging for hospital parking for patients and visitors combined.The latest figures from 2023/24 show that 34% of NHS trusts do not charge hospital car parking for patients and visitors. The data on this is collected in the Estates Return Information Collection (ERIC) and available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24More widely, some patients already receive free hospital car parking as this is provided to those in ‘most need’. This is defined as frequent outpatient attenders, parents of children staying overnight, disabled blue badge holders and NHS staff working overnight. All NHS Trusts that charge for hospital car parking have implemented this commitment.

How many foreign-born prisoners are currently serving sentences for knife crime offences.

Statistics of this nature do not currently form part of our published statistics. Our current approach to publication of nationality data is in line with that used during the previous Conservative Government. However, we are monitoring the data that we collect and publish on the prison population and will keep this under review.Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced. The Ministry of Justice will work with the Home Office to pursue their deportation. Since 5 July 2024, more FNOs have been returned than in the same period 12 months prior.