Every parliamentary written question tabled by Saqib Bhatti this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 61–80 of 261 · this parliament
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the rise in Japanese bond yields on UK markets.
Market prices are determined by a wide range of global and domestic factors. The government does not comment on movements in financial markets.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of creating a cyber incident database with compulsory fixes to be created for energy infrastructure.
The government's Cyber Security Breaches Survey shows that 43% of UK businesses reported experiencing a cyber breach or attack within the past year. Within the utilities sector this figure is 48%. The survey does not specifically detail cyber attacks on energy infrastructure.The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned there is a significant and enduring cyber threat faced by the UK’s critical national infrastructure. As part of its routine operations the NCSC works closely with all areas of the UK’s critical national infrastructure to highlight the cyber threat landscape and associated mitigation activities. As noted in its Annual Review (2025) the NCSC has undertaken a wide range of activities to enhance protections for the UK’s energy infrastructure, including delivering technical advice and guidance on cyber security challenges, working directly with key suppliers on cyber security initiatives, and providing additional support to operators of renewable energy assets. The annual review also notes how NCSC has deepened its understanding of cyber maturity in critical national infrastructure, enabling more targeted interventions and strengthening the UK’s ability to identify and eliminate sophisticated threat actors.The Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill updates the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018, which includes essential services in the energy sector. The Bill will improve the cyber security of the energy sector and its infrastructure through better resourced regulators to respond to cyber threats, and a stronger mechanism for government to set priority outcomes for regulators to work to.The incident reporting framework will also be updated through the Bill, including for the energy sector. Under the existing reporting regime, too many significant incidents do not need to be reported, and this creates a gap in the government’s knowledge and ability to protect the UK from harm. A wider range of significant incidents, such as successful ransomware and pre-positioning will need to be reported under the Bill. A light touch, initial notification will also be required within 24 hours of an incident being discovered will enable quicker and more effective support to be provided to organisations.The Bill will keep pace with an increasingly digitalised and interconnected energy sector by bringing load controllers into scope of the NIS Regulations as a new essential service, where they meet the threshold, ensuring regulation is focused where the risk is greatest.
Innovation and Technology, what estimate her Department has made of the number of cyber attacks on energy infrastructure.
The government's Cyber Security Breaches Survey shows that 43% of UK businesses reported experiencing a cyber breach or attack within the past year. Within the utilities sector this figure is 48%. The survey does not specifically detail cyber attacks on energy infrastructure.The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned there is a significant and enduring cyber threat faced by the UK’s critical national infrastructure. As part of its routine operations the NCSC works closely with all areas of the UK’s critical national infrastructure to highlight the cyber threat landscape and associated mitigation activities. As noted in its Annual Review (2025) the NCSC has undertaken a wide range of activities to enhance protections for the UK’s energy infrastructure, including delivering technical advice and guidance on cyber security challenges, working directly with key suppliers on cyber security initiatives, and providing additional support to operators of renewable energy assets. The annual review also notes how NCSC has deepened its understanding of cyber maturity in critical national infrastructure, enabling more targeted interventions and strengthening the UK’s ability to identify and eliminate sophisticated threat actors.The Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill updates the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018, which includes essential services in the energy sector. The Bill will improve the cyber security of the energy sector and its infrastructure through better resourced regulators to respond to cyber threats, and a stronger mechanism for government to set priority outcomes for regulators to work to.The incident reporting framework will also be updated through the Bill, including for the energy sector. Under the existing reporting regime, too many significant incidents do not need to be reported, and this creates a gap in the government’s knowledge and ability to protect the UK from harm. A wider range of significant incidents, such as successful ransomware and pre-positioning will need to be reported under the Bill. A light touch, initial notification will also be required within 24 hours of an incident being discovered will enable quicker and more effective support to be provided to organisations.The Bill will keep pace with an increasingly digitalised and interconnected energy sector by bringing load controllers into scope of the NIS Regulations as a new essential service, where they meet the threshold, ensuring regulation is focused where the risk is greatest.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill on the cyber resilience of energy infrastructure.
The government's Cyber Security Breaches Survey shows that 43% of UK businesses reported experiencing a cyber breach or attack within the past year. Within the utilities sector this figure is 48%. The survey does not specifically detail cyber attacks on energy infrastructure.The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned there is a significant and enduring cyber threat faced by the UK’s critical national infrastructure. As part of its routine operations the NCSC works closely with all areas of the UK’s critical national infrastructure to highlight the cyber threat landscape and associated mitigation activities. As noted in its Annual Review (2025) the NCSC has undertaken a wide range of activities to enhance protections for the UK’s energy infrastructure, including delivering technical advice and guidance on cyber security challenges, working directly with key suppliers on cyber security initiatives, and providing additional support to operators of renewable energy assets. The annual review also notes how NCSC has deepened its understanding of cyber maturity in critical national infrastructure, enabling more targeted interventions and strengthening the UK’s ability to identify and eliminate sophisticated threat actors.The Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill updates the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018, which includes essential services in the energy sector. The Bill will improve the cyber security of the energy sector and its infrastructure through better resourced regulators to respond to cyber threats, and a stronger mechanism for government to set priority outcomes for regulators to work to.The incident reporting framework will also be updated through the Bill, including for the energy sector. Under the existing reporting regime, too many significant incidents do not need to be reported, and this creates a gap in the government’s knowledge and ability to protect the UK from harm. A wider range of significant incidents, such as successful ransomware and pre-positioning will need to be reported under the Bill. A light touch, initial notification will also be required within 24 hours of an incident being discovered will enable quicker and more effective support to be provided to organisations.The Bill will keep pace with an increasingly digitalised and interconnected energy sector by bringing load controllers into scope of the NIS Regulations as a new essential service, where they meet the threshold, ensuring regulation is focused where the risk is greatest.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the risk of cyber attacks on energy infrastructure.
The government's Cyber Security Breaches Survey shows that 43% of UK businesses reported experiencing a cyber breach or attack within the past year. Within the utilities sector this figure is 48%. The survey does not specifically detail cyber attacks on energy infrastructure.The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned there is a significant and enduring cyber threat faced by the UK’s critical national infrastructure. As part of its routine operations the NCSC works closely with all areas of the UK’s critical national infrastructure to highlight the cyber threat landscape and associated mitigation activities. As noted in its Annual Review (2025) the NCSC has undertaken a wide range of activities to enhance protections for the UK’s energy infrastructure, including delivering technical advice and guidance on cyber security challenges, working directly with key suppliers on cyber security initiatives, and providing additional support to operators of renewable energy assets. The annual review also notes how NCSC has deepened its understanding of cyber maturity in critical national infrastructure, enabling more targeted interventions and strengthening the UK’s ability to identify and eliminate sophisticated threat actors.The Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill updates the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018, which includes essential services in the energy sector. The Bill will improve the cyber security of the energy sector and its infrastructure through better resourced regulators to respond to cyber threats, and a stronger mechanism for government to set priority outcomes for regulators to work to.The incident reporting framework will also be updated through the Bill, including for the energy sector. Under the existing reporting regime, too many significant incidents do not need to be reported, and this creates a gap in the government’s knowledge and ability to protect the UK from harm. A wider range of significant incidents, such as successful ransomware and pre-positioning will need to be reported under the Bill. A light touch, initial notification will also be required within 24 hours of an incident being discovered will enable quicker and more effective support to be provided to organisations.The Bill will keep pace with an increasingly digitalised and interconnected energy sector by bringing load controllers into scope of the NIS Regulations as a new essential service, where they meet the threshold, ensuring regulation is focused where the risk is greatest.
What steps she is taking to engage (a) disabled students and (b) sector representatives when developing policy.
The department regularly engages with a range of stakeholders, including organisations representing disabled students, disability experts, higher education providers and the Student Loans Company, to gather feedback and insights that inform policy development. These contributions help ensure that the needs and experiences of disabled students are reflected in the department’s policymaking processes.
Whether she has plans to review the Disability Student Allowance.
The department keeps all support funded through the Disabled Students’ Allowance under regular review to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of disabled students. Any future changes will be communicated publicly.
If she will publish the full list of members of her Department’s SEND Development Group and the criteria for membership.
I refer the hon. Member for Solihull East to the answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 104812.
If she will publish a list of all the dates on which her Department’s SEND Development Group has met and the minutes of each of those meetings.
I refer the hon. Member for Solihull East to the answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 104812.
If she will publish the terms of reference for her Department’s SEND Development Group.
I refer the hon. Member for Solihull East to the answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 104812.
What steps her Department will take to provide dedicated funding for schools to deliver enrichment activities.
I refer the hon. Member for Meriden and Solihull East to the answer of 27 November 2025 to Question 93212.
Whether her Department plans to publish a timetable and delivery framework to ensure that the enrichment entitlement becomes a universal offer for all pupils.
Almost all schools offer some form of enrichment activity to pupils. Ofsted inspects provision as part of its personal development judgement.To support all schools to develop, improve and widen access to their offers, the department is developing an Enrichment Framework which will include benchmarks for how schools and colleges can build a strategic and intentional offer of enrichment that can benefit all children and young people. The Framework will be published in early 2026.Our ambition is that all schools should provide an enrichment offer to all pupils that meets the new benchmarks. This includes access to civic engagement, arts and culture, nature, outdoor and adventure, sport and physical activities, and developing wider life skills. We will consult on how enrichment is embedded in School Profiles, ensuring they are co-designed with the input of schools and frontline expertise. To provide more targeted support, we are working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the design of the enrichment expansion programme, and more details will be provided shortly. This will go alongside wider support such as £132.5 million of Dormant Assets funding to support the provision of services, facilities, and opportunities to young people, particularly those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.
What steps her Department will take to set accountability measures to guarantee equitable access to the enrichment entitlement across all regions.
Almost all schools offer some form of enrichment activity to pupils. Ofsted inspects provision as part of its personal development judgement.To support all schools to develop, improve and widen access to their offers, the department is developing an Enrichment Framework which will include benchmarks for how schools and colleges can build a strategic and intentional offer of enrichment that can benefit all children and young people. The Framework will be published in early 2026.Our ambition is that all schools should provide an enrichment offer to all pupils that meets the new benchmarks. This includes access to civic engagement, arts and culture, nature, outdoor and adventure, sport and physical activities, and developing wider life skills. We will consult on how enrichment is embedded in School Profiles, ensuring they are co-designed with the input of schools and frontline expertise. To provide more targeted support, we are working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the design of the enrichment expansion programme, and more details will be provided shortly. This will go alongside wider support such as £132.5 million of Dormant Assets funding to support the provision of services, facilities, and opportunities to young people, particularly those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.
What steps her Department will take to scale provision of the enrichment entitlement beyond the 400 schools covered by the £22.5 million enrichment expansion programme.
Almost all schools offer some form of enrichment activity to pupils. Ofsted inspects provision as part of its personal development judgement.To support all schools to develop, improve and widen access to their offers, the department is developing an Enrichment Framework which will include benchmarks for how schools and colleges can build a strategic and intentional offer of enrichment that can benefit all children and young people. The Framework will be published in early 2026.Our ambition is that all schools should provide an enrichment offer to all pupils that meets the new benchmarks. This includes access to civic engagement, arts and culture, nature, outdoor and adventure, sport and physical activities, and developing wider life skills. We will consult on how enrichment is embedded in School Profiles, ensuring they are co-designed with the input of schools and frontline expertise. To provide more targeted support, we are working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the design of the enrichment expansion programme, and more details will be provided shortly. This will go alongside wider support such as £132.5 million of Dormant Assets funding to support the provision of services, facilities, and opportunities to young people, particularly those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.
What steps her Department is taking to protect learners (a) in and (b) planning to enter the BTEC pipeline before first teaching in September 2025.
On 20 October 2025, alongside the publication of the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper, the department published a consultation on Post-16 level 3 and below pathways, which closed on the 12 January. As part of our consultation, we have been engaging with the sector on transition arrangements. We will set out our response to the consultation in due course.
What steps her Department is taking to help ensure continuity of local provision and specialist staffing be during transition, in the context of the number of colleges providing the Level 3 BTEC Forensic and Criminal Investigation.
On 20 October 2025, alongside the publication of the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper, the department published a consultation on Post-16 level 3 and below pathways, which closed on the 12 January. As part of our consultation, we have been engaging with the sector on transition arrangements. We will set out our response to the consultation in due course.
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the level of funding for standalone Level 3 BTEC Forensic and Criminal Investigation on (a) progression and (b) employer outcomes in forensic roles.
On 20 October 2025, alongside the publication of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the department published a consultation on Post-16 level 3 and below pathways, which closed on 12 January. As part of our consultation, we have been engaging with the sector on transition arrangements. We will set out our response to the consultation in due course.
Whether an Equality Impact Assessment been completed and published for changes to scene-based competencies; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those changes on (a) participation and (b) regional access.
On 20 October 2025, alongside the publication of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the department published a consultation on Post-16 level 3 and below pathways, which closed on the 12 January. The reforms set out in the consultation simplify the level 3 qualifications landscape into 3 pathways: T Levels, V Levels and A levels. They also reform the level 2 landscape so that it better supports students to progress to level 3 or into employment.V Levels will focus on core knowledge and skills linked with occupational standards, enabling progression to higher education, apprenticeships, or employment. T Levels combine sector-specific core content with a specialist component that develops competence in an occupation.As part of our consultation, we have been engaging with the sector on transition arrangements. We will set out our response to the consultation in due course.The department is working with awarding organisations, training providers, Skills England and sector representative organisations to develop these new qualifications, which will go through a series of checks for their quality and appropriateness for learners before being approved for funding.The UNICEF Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability and Quality framework is used primarily in humanitarian, healthcare, gender-based violence, and child protection settings to assess barriers to service access, rather than qualification content design. As with all new policies the department needs to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty, and the consultation included an equality and diversity impact assessment.The information requested on participation and regional access is not held centrally.
Whether the Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability and Quality framework will ensure that scene-based competencies including scene management, evidence recovery, contamination control, forensic photography are (a) delivered and (b) assessed at Level 3.
On 20 October 2025, alongside the publication of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the department published a consultation on Post-16 level 3 and below pathways, which closed on the 12 January. The reforms set out in the consultation simplify the level 3 qualifications landscape into 3 pathways: T Levels, V Levels and A levels. They also reform the level 2 landscape so that it better supports students to progress to level 3 or into employment.V Levels will focus on core knowledge and skills linked with occupational standards, enabling progression to higher education, apprenticeships, or employment. T Levels combine sector-specific core content with a specialist component that develops competence in an occupation.As part of our consultation, we have been engaging with the sector on transition arrangements. We will set out our response to the consultation in due course.The department is working with awarding organisations, training providers, Skills England and sector representative organisations to develop these new qualifications, which will go through a series of checks for their quality and appropriateness for learners before being approved for funding.The UNICEF Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability and Quality framework is used primarily in humanitarian, healthcare, gender-based violence, and child protection settings to assess barriers to service access, rather than qualification content design. As with all new policies the department needs to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty, and the consultation included an equality and diversity impact assessment.The information requested on participation and regional access is not held centrally.
How many young people are undertaking training in AI.
Digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills are essential for young people to succeed in education, employment and to engage effectively in a digital world. Following the recommendations of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, we are strengthening digital education. The computing curriculum will remain the main route for teaching digital literacy, with clearer guidance on what pupils should learn. We are also considering how digital content should be included within other subjects and will work with experts to assess viability.To equip pupils for a digitally enabled world, we will replace the computer science GCSE with a broader computing GCSE and incorporate AI, data science, and topics such as bias into the curriculum in an age-appropriate way. We are also exploring a potential Level 3 qualification in data science and AI. Draft proposals will be subject to public consultation later this year.Evidence on the benefits and risks of students using generative AI is still emerging, so we will continue to build evidence and support the education sector to use AI safely and effectively. Schools using pupil-facing generative AI must carefully follow legal responsibilities, as outlined in our Generative AI policy paper.Student numbers for a range of approved Level 2 and 3 subjects can be found within educational statistics here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/.The actions we are taking forward are expected to increase the teaching of digital literacy and AI within the curriculum and encourage more young people to consider digital qualifications, bolstering the future pipeline of talent.