Written questions by Arthur.

What steps she plans to take to ensure that rail workers maintain their (a) pay and (b) working conditions when their rail company is moved into public ownership.

As rail passenger services are transferred into public ownership, staff employed by the privately-owned operator transfer to the public sector operator in accordance with Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations, protecting their contractual terms and conditions.

If she plans to have discussions with unions ahead of rail companies being taken into public ownership.

The Department and DFT Operator have regular discussions with trade unions on a range of topics, including the public ownership programme. Officials engage with trade unions throughout the transfer process, from the point of confirming when a train operator’s services will transfer into public ownership through to the transfer date and beyond.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of government funding for Global Citizenship Education in England on the provision of Global Citizenship Education programmes.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The Scottish Government is responsible for schools and teaching in Scotland, including any decisions about Global Citizenship Education programmes.In England the national curriculum for citizenship education covers democracy, justice and human rights; media and financial literacy; and how citizens can influence decisions.The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which seeks to deliver a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that equips young people with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to thrive in life and work. The Review will publish its final report in autumn 2025.

What steps she is taking to ensure schools reach Sustainable Development Goal 4.7.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The work of the department contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4.Citizenship education provides a framework to prepare pupils to be active, informed and responsible citizens. The national curriculum for citizenship is mandatory at key stages 3 and 4, where pupils learn about democracy, politics, parliament and voting, as well as human rights, justice, media literacy, the law, and the need for mutual respect. Primary schools can choose to teach citizenship following the non-statutory framework.Climate change and the environment are included within the current national curriculum in geography and science, with an environmental science A level available. The department is also developing a new GCSE in natural history, which will equip young people to understand the protection and conservation of the environment and respect the natural world.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Royal Norwegian Navy's decision to procure 5 Type 26 frigates from the UK on Scotland's economy.

Norway’s decision to procure five Type 26 frigates from the UK will deliver a significant economic boost to Scotland. The historic £10 billion deal cements Scotland’s position as a world leader in naval shipbuilding and strengthens our strategic partnership with a key NATO ally.The deal will secure around 2,000 highly skilled jobs at BAE Systems in Glasgow, with a further 2,000 roles sustained across the wider UK supply chain until the late 2030s. More than 100 Scottish businesses, including over 50 small and medium sized enterprises, are expected to benefit from this major partnership.This contract represents another 'defence dividend' for Scotland, supporting thousands of jobs and reinforcing Scotland's vital contribution to UK prosperity and security. The deal shows that when we back Scottish industry, it delivers for communities, workers, our economy and our allies.

What discussions he had with the Royal Norwegian Navy before it announced its decision to procure 5 Type 26 frigates from the UK.

Norway's decision to choose Scottish-built Type 26 frigates demonstrates the success of our shipbuilding industry and the world-class skills and expertise of the workforce on the Clyde. This is the defence dividend in action for Scotland.The Scotland Office has actively supported the Type 26 campaign both at home and abroad. Last year, the previous Secretary of State for Scotland attended a meeting with the Norwegian Defence Minister, hosted by my Rt Hon Friend the Defence Secretary, and invited the Norwegian Ambassador and Defence Attache to join him at the RAF Distinguished Visitors Day onboard HMS Prince of Wales, observing the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and visited Oslo to meet Norwegian Ministers and the defence contractor Kongsberg.The Secretary of State for Scotland and I will continue to proudly champion Scotland’s world-class shipbuilding and wider defence sector, ensuring it remains central to both the UK’s defence capability and wider economic growth.

How many children injured in Gaza as a result of the conflict have been brought to the UK for medical treatment; and what steps he is taking to support other Palestinian children who may benefit from receiving treatment in the UK.

I refer the Hon. Members to My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s Written Statement to the House on 1 September 2025, available at the following link:https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-09-01/hcws899

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of staffing levels administering the War Pension Scheme.

The MOD is currently handling a significant volume of claims. To address this, staffing levels have been evaluated as part of efforts to reduce holdings and improve processing times. Several measures are being implemented, including the recruitment of additional staff for the War Pension Scheme, the introduction of new training programmes and standardised processes, and enhancements to IT systems to optimise and digitise the end to end services we provide to veterans.

What steps he is taking to help support veterans facing homelessness in each UK nation.

The Prime Minister has made clear that ensuring veterans and their families can access support, including for housing, is a priority. In November 2024, he announced an additional £3.5 million to continue the Reducing Veterans Homelessness Programme, which provides vital supported housing services to veterans across the UK. This programme has awarded grants to organisations in all four UK nations. Further information on grant awards can be found here: https://covenantfund.org.uk/reducing-veterans-homelessness-projects-weve-supported/ This funding also provides continuation of Op FORTITUDE, the single referral pathway providing housing support to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness across the UK. To date, Op FORTITUDE has taken over 3,800 referrals and supported over 970 veterans into housing. We have removed the five-year local connection requirement for veterans to access social housing in England. This is in addition to existing regulations which state veterans must be given 'additional priority' status as long as they have an urgent housing need. In addition, the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund has awarded and continues to award grants to organisations across the UK to refurbish, expand or enhance veteran accommodation. This programme will ensure there will be a long-term and sustainable supply of high-quality properties with access to wraparound support for veterans. Further information on the grants awarded under this programme can be found here: https://covenantfund.org.uk/2025/05/14/almost-4-5-million-awarded-to-support-veterans-with-a-housing-need/

What steps she is taking in Edinburgh to identify employers recruiting people residing in the city without legal permission or valid immigration status.

The government is committed to taking effective action against employers of illegal workers. The Home Office collaborates closely with labour market enforcement bodies, routinely sharing intelligence and information to understand the threats and to inform the development of tactical action plans. Intensification activity targeting illegal working has been undertaken by operational teams right across the UK including in Edinburgh. Immigration and Compliance Teams conduct compliance and intelligence led enforcement visits and will take robust enforcement action against those individuals applying a range of sanctions.

Whether her Department has had discussions with private pension schemes on ensuring that people who have made contributions to defined benefit private pensions are able to benefit from a pension surplus.

The Department for Work and Pensions consulted on surplus release from defined benefit pensions schemes last year. Throughout the consultation, and in developing the consultation response and the Pension Schemes Bill, the Department has engaged with pension schemes, representatives of their members, sponsoring employers and trustees. We recognise the valuable perspectives of stakeholder groups.

What the estimated cost of maintaining the freeze on fuel duty is in (a) 2024-2025 and (b) the five-year Parliamentary term.

At Autumn Budget 2024, fuel duty was frozen at the current rate of 52.95 pence per litre for 2025/26, at a projected cost of £3,015m in 2025/26. The OBR estimated in its March 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook that if the duty rate were to remain unchanged at its current level throughout the forecast period it would reduce receipts, on average, by £3.8 billion a year between 2026/27 and 2029/30. Fuel duty was also frozen for 2024/25 by the previous government at Spring Budget 2024, at a projected cost of £3,090m in 2024/25.

What discussions her Department has had with the Pensions Regulator on the effectiveness of the steps it is taking to ensure the independence of pensions trustee bodies.

The Department works closely with the Pensions Regulator (TPR) to ensure that pension scheme trustees always act in the interests of all beneficiaries. All pension scheme trustees have the same duties and responsibilities and must comply with the law and the rules of their scheme. All pension schemes are required by legislation and the Regulator’s General Code of Practice to have processes in place to identify and manage conflicts of interest. TPR’s corporate plan outlines the importance of good governance as a foundation of the pensions system and their priority to raise standards of trusteeship. The plan outlines their core delivery objectives in 2025 to 2026 to develop a new strategy for raising the standards of trusteeship and expand their market oversight to the largest professional trustee firms. DWP continues to regularly review TPR’s delivery against its corporate plan through its sponsorship arrangements. The Government recognises the vital role trustees play in running occupational pension schemes and will consult on matters to improve trusteeship and governance later this year.

What recent discussions her Department has had with freight operators on the potential impact of the Railway Bill on their operating model.

The Rail Minister meets regularly with the freight operators and the Railways Bill has been a subject of discussion on a number of occasions. Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published every quarter and this information can be accessed on the Gov.uk website via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-transparency-data#meetings. In addition, officials meet regularly with the freight operators and have provided updates on the Bill. There have also been workshops for operators on specific aspects of the Bill.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61693 on Driving Licences: Health, what the DVLA’s planned timeframe is for the introduction of the new strategic system to process medical cases.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s new system to process medical cases is being delivered in three phases and is scheduled to be fully operational by March 2026.

What assessment she has made of the impact of wealth taxes on national economies in countries where they exist.

The Government is committed to making sure the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share of tax. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at Autumn Budget 2024 to help fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible.  These and other decisions announced at the Budget will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education. According to the latest OECD data, the UK raises more from taxing wealth both in revenue, and as a proportion of its tax base, than Spain, Switzerland, and Norway.

If she will make an estimate of the number of workers residing in the country without legal permission or valid immigration status employed by food delivery companies.

The Home Office does not hold an estimate of the number of people working illegally in the gig economy. The recent joint work between the Office for National Statistics and the Home Office explains the complexities: Measuring illegal migration: our current view - Office for National Statistics.The government takes illegal working very seriously, and we are determined to clamp down on the employment of individuals with no right to work in the UK.In July 2025, the Home Office announced a new operational partnership with key food delivery companies to tackle illegal working in the gig economy, particularly among food delivery riders.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of UK's offshore energy regulatory framework on levels of investment.

The clean energy transition creates an opportunity for our expert offshore industry and workers to play a central role in the next generation of energy supply. Our commitments to deliver clean power by 2030 and to accelerate to net zero will guarantee our country’s energy security and create jobs, with gas continuing to play an important role in ensuring security of supply during the clean power transition. Together, the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, and the upcoming response to 'Building the North Sea's Energy Future' consultation provide a clear mission to drive investment certainty. These plans ensure the UK becomes a global leader in clean energy innovation, supply chains, manufacturing and deployment. We have directly responded to the investment and regulatory barriers prohibiting growth for the sector. Measures include £5.8bn National Wealth Fund for high-cost infrastructure and ports investment; Clean Industry Bonus expansion; £1bn GBE Supply Chain Fund, planning and consenting reform; and targeted R&D funding.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of gambling legislation in protecting young people from gambling-related harm.

We are committed to implementing gambling white paper legislative measures and to evaluating these measures effectively. As part of this, we introduced a £2 online slots stake limit for 18-24 year olds in May this year, a targeted-harm reduction measure for a high risk product. We have committed to review these measures within five years, or earlier if there is evidence to do so. We have also introduced a statutory gambling levy. 30% of levy funding will be allocated to prevention activity, including education and early intervention to help protect young people from gambling-related harm. We are also assessing white paper measures through an ongoing evaluation, and will publish the final report on the impact of these measures in due course. In parallel we will continue to monitor the best available evidence to inform how we protect young people from gambling harm amongst children and young people.

What meetings he has held with the offshore energy sector to discuss incentivising investment in the UK.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.