Written questions by Davies.

Communities and Local Government, what the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in her Department was in each of the last three years; and what information she holds on the the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in local authorities in the same period.

Our records show that between 2021 and October 2024, 100 (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) employees have taken paternity leave for the birth or adoption of a child. The average working days taken (AWDT) is shown in the table below.Calendar YearAWDT2021102022112023122024 (Jan to Oct)10Staff employed in local authorities are subject to the pay terms and conditions for those organisations. This department does not keep a central record on employment data relating to these organisations.

What the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in her Department was in each of the last three years; and whether she holds similar data for police forces in England and Wales.

The Home Office policy is named 'maternity and adoption support leave' in recognition of the fact that the secondary parent or, in the case of adoption, the secondary adopter, is not necessarily a man. The average length of maternity and adoption support for last three financial years is outlined below.YearAverage length of Maternity and Adoption support (Calendar days)2021-22142022-23142023-2414The Home Office does not collect centrally information on the average length of paternity leave taken by those working within the police service.

What the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in his Department was in each of the last three years.

The HR reporting system used by the Northern Ireland Office does not provide paternity leave information in the form requested.The paternity leave policy followed is set out here.

Media and Sport, what the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in her Department was in each of the last three years.

The average length of paternity leave taken by DCMS staff was as follows:2021: 10.8 days2022: 9.7 days2023: 10.3 days

What the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in (a) his Department and (b) the Competition and Markets Authority was in each of the last three years.

The table below shows the average length of paternity leave taken by staff. This includes paternity leave after birth. Time periodAverage length of paternity leave (working days)01.08.2023. - 31.07.2024.1001.08.2022. - 31.07.2023.1001.08.2021. - 31.07.2022.10 The Department for Business and Trade is a newly formed Department established in February 2023. The new department absorbed the functions of the former Department for International Trade (DIT) and some of the functions of the former Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The figures prior to 01.08.2023 include all former DIT staff and former BEIS staff who transferred to DBT. The below figures cover the same period for staff at the Competition and Markets Authority.YearAverage length (mean) of paternity leave (working days)2021-229.82022-239.42023-248.92024-25 (to date)8.9

What the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in her Department was in each of the last three years.

The average length of paternity leave taken by employees of the Department for Education for each of the last three years is set out in the table below.YearAverage Number of Calendar Days202218.7202319.92024 (to date)19.9

What the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in (a) her Department, (b) HM Courts and Tribunals Service and (c) HM Prison and Probation Service was in each of the last three years.

The average length of paternity leave taken across the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for each of the last three years is 14 calendar days. The breakdown as per the request is as follows: Average number of days of paternity leave taken by staff in MoJ, HMCTS and HMPPS MoJHMCTSHMPPS01/07/2021 to 30/06/202214141401/07/2022 to 30/06/202314141401/07/2023 to 30/06/2024141414 Note: This includes those with an Absence Category of ‘Paternity Birth’ on the department’s HR database.Note: Records assigned to the relevant year by the Absence Start Date.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in his Department was in each of the last three years.

The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

What the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in (a) her Department and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service was in each of the last three years.

Our records show that between 2021 and October 2024, Attorney General’s Office and Crown Prosecution Service employees have taken paternity leave for the birth or adoption of a child.The average working days taken (AWDT) is shown in the table below.YearAttorney General’s Office – AWDTCrown Prosecution Service – AWDT202110102022010202310102024 (Jan to Oct)1010

What the average length of paternity leave taken by staff in his Department was in each of the last three years.

Our records show that between 2021 and October 2024, 258 Cabinet Office employees have taken paternity leave for the birth or adoption of a child. The average working days taken (AWDT) is shown in the table below. ​​YearAWDT202152022620235.72024 (Jan to Oct)6

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of the installation of solar panels as part of the motorway network; and which Government department or agency would provide (a) consent, (b) investment and (c) retain revenue concerns.

National Highways, who are responsible for operating, maintaining, and improving the Strategic Road Network, which includes motorways and trunk ‘A’ roads, is actively exploring renewable energy generation as part of its Net Zero Highways plan. Multiple trials and studies have been conducted, including solar panels on signs and structures on the Strategic Road Network. National Highways have also considered larger ground-mounted solar farms on non-operational estates, small scale Renewable Energy Generation on the Strategic Road Network, Renewable Energy Generation at depots and solar car ports at depots and motorway service areas. Feasibility studies to retrofit solar panels on existing motorway structures has shown that it does not represent value for money. The most economically viable option identified is rooftop solar generation at depots where most of the generation is consumed on-site and acts to offset the use of electricity from the grid. On the issue of consent, rooftop solar generation in depots does not require planning permission, however, it is expected that any installations on the Strategic Road Network would be subject to consent using powers within the Highways Act 1980. Any installations on National Highways’ non-operational estates would be subject to consent by the relevant Local Planning Authority. The Department provides investment to National Highways for such activities under the Road Investment Strategy funding. Any revenue from energy generation initiatives will help reduce National Highways’ operational expenditure.

How many people (a) presented at the Princess Royal Hospital A&E, Telford, and (b) were admitted to that hospital in each of the last five years.

Information on accident and emergency attendances and admissions is not available in the format requested, as it is only available at a National Health Service trust-level. The following table shows the accident and emergency attendances and emergency admissions for the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, from 2019/20 to 2024/25:YearAccident and emergency attendancesEmergency admissionsEmergency admissions via accident and emergency2019/20143,00859,79331,8042020/21103,20345,70130,2402021/22149,32354,80734,5742022/23149,41354,96933,7232023/24154,76659,30733,1182024/2564,90425,97115,813Source: the data is from NHS England, and is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ Note: the data for 2024/25 is only up until August 2024.NHS England publishes monthly provisional quality indicators that include the median average and the 95th percentile times that patients spent in accident and emergency by NHS trust. The following table shows the monthly range, from lowest and highest, of the median average time in minutes that patients spent in accident and emergency, each year since 2019/20 to 2024/25, for the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust:YearRange of median average time patients spent in accident and emergencyRange of the 95th percentile time patients spent in accident and emergency2019/20169 to 211577 to 9212020/21138 to 199361 to 7962021/22158 to 218471 to 1,0892022/23201 to 268899 to 2,0862023/24212 to 2401,698 to 2,3392024/25208 to 2501,663 to 2,123Source: the data is from NHS England, and is available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/provisional-accident-and-emergency-quality-indicators-for-england Notes:the data for 2024/25 is only up until July 2024.data is published at NHS provider-level not a site level, and is not disaggregated by age to provide separate information for adults and children.the 95th percentile is the time that is longer than the time 95% of patients spent in accident and emergency.

What the (a) longest, (b) shortest and (c) average waiting time for (i) children and (ii) adults was at Princess Royal Hospital A&E, Telford, in each of the last five years.

Information on accident and emergency attendances and admissions is not available in the format requested, as it is only available at a National Health Service trust-level. The following table shows the accident and emergency attendances and emergency admissions for the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, from 2019/20 to 2024/25:YearAccident and emergency attendancesEmergency admissionsEmergency admissions via accident and emergency2019/20143,00859,79331,8042020/21103,20345,70130,2402021/22149,32354,80734,5742022/23149,41354,96933,7232023/24154,76659,30733,1182024/2564,90425,97115,813Source: the data is from NHS England, and is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ Note: the data for 2024/25 is only up until August 2024.NHS England publishes monthly provisional quality indicators that include the median average and the 95th percentile times that patients spent in accident and emergency by NHS trust. The following table shows the monthly range, from lowest and highest, of the median average time in minutes that patients spent in accident and emergency, each year since 2019/20 to 2024/25, for the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust:YearRange of median average time patients spent in accident and emergencyRange of the 95th percentile time patients spent in accident and emergency2019/20169 to 211577 to 9212020/21138 to 199361 to 7962021/22158 to 218471 to 1,0892022/23201 to 268899 to 2,0862023/24212 to 2401,698 to 2,3392024/25208 to 2501,663 to 2,123Source: the data is from NHS England, and is available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/provisional-accident-and-emergency-quality-indicators-for-england Notes:the data for 2024/25 is only up until July 2024.data is published at NHS provider-level not a site level, and is not disaggregated by age to provide separate information for adults and children.the 95th percentile is the time that is longer than the time 95% of patients spent in accident and emergency.

What her planned timetable is for funding the (a) M54 and (b) M6 North link road.

A review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio has been commissioned, this will inform the Department’s new long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart and ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time. Assurances cannot be provided on individual projects, including the M54 to M6 Link Road, until the review is concluded.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of Saudi Arabia's bid for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The UK does not disclose voting positions on multilateral elections.

What funding was made available to West Mercia Police from the special grant to investigate maternity deaths and potential misconduct at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust in each of the last three years; and what funding from that grant she plans to make available for the same purpose for the next three years.

The Home Office has provided West Mercia Police with Special Grant funding of £1.9m in 2022-23, £1.9m in 2023-24, and has agreed to provide up to £1.8m in 2024-25, for Operation Lincoln.The Department will consider requests from West Mercia Police for future years when received, in line with the annual Special Grant process.

What steps his Department is taking to help households reduce energy bills.

The Government believes the only way to protect billpayers permanently is to speed up the transition towards homegrown clean energy and remove our dependence on volatile international fossil fuel markets. Whilst we transition to clean power by 2030, we will help families reduce their energy bills through our Warm Homes Plan which will upgrade homes across the country to make them warmer and cheaper to run. The Government will continue to provide additional support to vulnerable households struggling to pay their bills through our Warm Homes Discount.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a levy on foreign ownership of residential properties.

Non-UK residents purchasing residential property in England or Northern Ireland currently pay a 2 percentage point Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) surcharge on top of the standard residential SDLT rates. The Government keeps all tax policy under review and would have to consider the merits of any new taxes in the round as part of a fiscal event. The Chancellor will set out her Budget on the 30th October.

What discussions she has had with (a) Metro Mayors and (b) local authorities on tackling youth unemployment.

Our plan to get Britain Working includes a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or employment support. This will sit alongside; a new national jobs and careers service to help get more people into work, work health and skills plans for the economically inactive, and the launch of Skills England to open new opportunities for young people. Further detail will be shared in the up-coming White Paper. Such ambitious plans require input and expertise from a wide range of stakeholders - from community groups and employers through to local authorities and providers of employment support and careers advice. We have convened a small advisory group with the Mayoral Combined Authorities, Local councils and the Central London Forward to gather expertise and support the development of the White Paper, and we are working closely with the Devolved Governments to share insights on what is currently working across Britain. We look forward to working closely with stakeholders post-publication on the design and implementation of the measures in the White Paper.

How many cases are awaiting charging decisions by the Crown Prosecution Service for (a) summary only, (b) either way and (c) indictable only offences.

Management information is held showing the number of cases with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which are awaiting a pre-charge decision.The overall number of cases which were awaiting a charging decision or administrative triage (completed on files sent by the police to the CPS for a charging decision) as of 25 March 2024 was 13,697. This data is provided in line with the last quarterly data release in March 2024. The next quarterly release is due on 17 October 2024 which will be available on the CPS website at CPS quarterly data summaries | The Crown Prosecution Service.These figures do not include cases that have been referred to the CPS but that are currently with the police to action, having been sent back to them with a request for further information.This count is of the number of cases, not suspects. A single case may cover one suspect or several. No data is available in the report showing whether the alleged offences are summary, either-way or indictable only. To obtain this information would require a manual review at disproportionate cost.