Written questions by Braverman.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to take steps to enforce media law on the BBC following its recent broadcast of the Glastonbury music festival.

The Secretary of State was clear in her statement to Parliament that the scenes from the Bob Vylan performance at Glastonbury were utterly appalling and unacceptable. This Government will not tolerate antisemitism – it has absolutely no place in our society and we will be unrelenting in our work to root it out and it should not be given a platform.The BBC is editorially independent, and decisions on what content to broadcast, and how they broadcast that content, are a matter for the BBC. However, it is right that the BBC has acknowledged that the livestream of the performance should have come off air and that they are reviewing their guidance. There remain very serious questions at the highest levels of the BBC about operational oversight and the way in which editorial standards are implemented.As set out to Parliament, the Secretary of State has spoken to both the BBC Director General and Chair directly and has written to the Chair to ask for an urgent and detailed explanation about what immediate steps they intend to take. We expect answers to these questions without delay and expect lessons to be learned and rapid action to be taken.Ofcom is also in the process of obtaining further information from the BBC as a matter of urgency, including what procedures were in place to ensure compliance with its own editorial guidelines.Charter Review will consider editorial standards for the BBC. The Government will also build on the Media Act and Ofcom’s Public Service Media review by taking action to support public service media and the wider television ecosystem. As set out in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, the Government will update the policy and regulatory framework to respond to the changing market and promote a more level playing field, while maintaining universal access to distinctive and trusted public service content. This work will complement the BBC Charter Review.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a review of police conduct in relation to the treatment of grooming gang survivors.

On Monday 16 June 2025 the Home Secretary set out the Government’s response to Baroness Casey’s audit on grooming gangs, which includes the Government’s commitment to establish a national inquiry, and our support for the police in launching a new national criminal operation in.Any evidence of police wrongdoing identified through the work of the new national operation should be fully investigated and referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as required. The national inquiry will also direct local investigations and hold institutions to account for past failures. Further detail on the new national operation and the inquiry will be announced in due course.

Whether her Department has conducted a review into cases of de-banking; and what steps she plans to take to prevent this.

The government recognises that access to banking services is vital for people and businesses across the UK and is a matter of concern for certain sectors such as cryptoasset firms and their customers. The government continues to engage with the banking sector and affected industries to better understand the existing and emerging issues in this area. The government also welcomes the Financial Conduct Authority’s work to date to better understand why banks might reject or close bank accounts. Where the FCA has found areas where firms need to improve customer outcomes, the government expects firms to consider the FCA’s findings and act accordingly. Separately, the Treasury concluded a call for evidence in April 2023 which found deficiencies in the rules applying to bank account closures. In June 2025, the government therefore legislated to require banks and other providers to give customers a longer notice period of at least 90 days before terminating services and to provide a sufficiently detailed and specific explanation. These changes will give people and businesses the time and information they need to challenge decisions or find an alternative provider.

Whether she has made an estimate of the number of de-banking cases involving cryptocurrency.

The government recognises that access to banking services is vital for people and businesses across the UK and is a matter of concern for certain sectors such as cryptoasset firms and their customers. The government continues to engage with the banking sector and affected industries to better understand the existing and emerging issues in this area. The government also welcomes the Financial Conduct Authority’s work to date to better understand why banks might reject or close bank accounts. Where the FCA has found areas where firms need to improve customer outcomes, the government expects firms to consider the FCA’s findings and act accordingly. Separately, the Treasury concluded a call for evidence in April 2023 which found deficiencies in the rules applying to bank account closures. In June 2025, the government therefore legislated to require banks and other providers to give customers a longer notice period of at least 90 days before terminating services and to provide a sufficiently detailed and specific explanation. These changes will give people and businesses the time and information they need to challenge decisions or find an alternative provider.

Whether her Department has conducted a review into the listed causes of de-banking by banking corporations.

The government recognises that access to banking services is vital for people and businesses across the UK and is a matter of concern for certain sectors such as cryptoasset firms and their customers. The government continues to engage with the banking sector and affected industries to better understand the existing and emerging issues in this area. The government also welcomes the Financial Conduct Authority’s work to date to better understand why banks might reject or close bank accounts. Where the FCA has found areas where firms need to improve customer outcomes, the government expects firms to consider the FCA’s findings and act accordingly. Separately, the Treasury concluded a call for evidence in April 2023 which found deficiencies in the rules applying to bank account closures. In June 2025, the government therefore legislated to require banks and other providers to give customers a longer notice period of at least 90 days before terminating services and to provide a sufficiently detailed and specific explanation. These changes will give people and businesses the time and information they need to challenge decisions or find an alternative provider.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the issues which have led to the largest number of incidents of reported civil servants being found in breach of strict impartiality conduct.

The collection of any data with regard to breaches of the Civil Service Code would be a matter for individual departments.

Whether his Department plans to make an assessment of how to improve civil service compliance with strict impartiality in (a) recruitment and (b) retention.

The Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles explain the legal requirement that selection for appointment to the Civil Service must be on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. The Civil Service takes adherence to these principles very seriously. The Civil Service Commission publishes data regarding compliance and their most recent annual report for 2023/24 showed a 13% reduction in breaches compared to 2022/23.For the centrally managed Senior Civil Service, departments are able to address flight risk with Pivotal Role Allowances (PRAs) for those delivering critical programmes and those responsible for implementing government priorities. All PRAs require the approval of the Cabinet Office and the Treasury and are assessed against strict eligibility criteria, including the business criticality of the role, the impact should the incumbent leave, the skills required and the level of flight risk. For grades below the SCS, departments have delegated authority to determine their own pay arrangements to reflect their recruitment and retention needs.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of incidents involving civil servants who were found to be in breach of strict impartiality.

The collection of any data with regard to breaches of the Civil Service Code would be a matter for individual departments.

What steps his Department plans to take to support (a) neutrality and (b) impartiality in the civil service.

Impartiality, and in particular political impartiality, is one of the values of the Civil Service Code. It is a contractual obligation for civil servants to abide by the Code. Impartiality means civil servants must serve the Government, whatever its political persuasion, to the best of their ability.

Whether her Department has considered compassionate measures for Lucy Connolly.

We cannot disclose personal information about an individual prisoner.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to meet with Sebastien Lai.

The Foreign Secretary met with Sebastien Lai, Jimmy Lai's son, and his international legal team, on 7 November 2024. I met with Sebastien and Doughty Street Chambers on 28 April. The government is clear that Jimmy Lai's case is a priority and I raised it with the Hong Kong Government last month.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Chinese counterpart on the detention of Jimmy Lai.

Jimmy Lai's case is a priority for this government. The Prime Minister raised Mr Lai's case with President Xi on 18 November 2024 at the G20 Summit in Brazil. The Foreign Secretary raised it with China's Foreign Minister in April. During my visit to Hong Kong last month, I called for Mr Lai's release during my meeting with Hong Kong's Chief Secretary.The UK continues to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and immediately release Mr Lai. Diplomats from our Consulate-General in Hong Kong have attended his court proceedings throughout, and we continue to press for consular access.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of international measures to secure the release of Jimmy Lai.

Jimmy Lai's case is a priority for this government. The Prime Minister raised Mr Lai's case with President Xi on 18 November 2024 at the G20 Summit in Brazil. The Foreign Secretary raised it with China's Foreign Minister in April. During my visit to Hong Kong last month, I called for Mr Lai's release during my meeting with Hong Kong's Chief Secretary.The UK continues to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and immediately release Mr Lai. Diplomats from our Consulate-General in Hong Kong have attended his court proceedings throughout, and we continue to press for consular access.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to secure the release of Jimmy Lai.

Jimmy Lai's case is a priority for this government. The Prime Minister raised Mr Lai's case with President Xi on 18 November 2024 at the G20 Summit in Brazil. The Foreign Secretary raised it with China's Foreign Minister in April. During my visit to Hong Kong last month, I called for Mr Lai's release during my meeting with Hong Kong's Chief Secretary.The UK continues to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and immediately release Mr Lai. Diplomats from our Consulate-General in Hong Kong have attended his court proceedings throughout, and we continue to press for consular access.

Whether her Department plans to review the case of Lucy Connolly.

The Court of Appeal has considered all the evidence put before them in this case and refused the application for leave to appeal against the sentence. It would not be appropriate for any Minister of Government to comment on or intervene in such a decision of the independent judiciary, and as such the Government has no plans to review this case.If an individual has appealed unsuccessfully and exhausted the usual routes of appeal, they are able to apply to the Criminal Case Review Commission.

Whether her Department plans to bring forward legislation to protect free speech.

This Government recognises the fundamental importance of freedom of speech as a cornerstone of our democratic society. We have had free speech in this country for a very long time. It is one of our foundational principles of which we are all very proud. It is already protected by legislation, including notably the Human Rights Act 1998, which gives further domestic effect to the right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of Lucy Connolly's condition in prison.

We cannot disclose personal information about an individual prisoner.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the reoffending rate of prisoners released through the early release scheme in 2024.

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We have had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe.Reoffending rates are published regularly on an annual and quarterly basis. The most recent rates are available at the link below: Proven reoffending statistics - GOV.UK.There has not been any significant increase in recall following SDS40.We have also published SDS40 release data alongside the quarterly Offender Management Statistics, in line with the Lord Chancellor’s commitment to transparency: Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) release data - GOV.UK.

Whether her Department plans to increase oversight of Child Maintenance Service enforcement via (a) independent bodies and (b) ombudsmen.

The Child Maintenance Service will do everything within its powers to make sure parents comply. Where parents fail to take responsibility for paying for their children, the CMS will not hesitate to use the range of enforcement powers available. The CMS is committed to using these powers fairly and in the best interests of children and separated families. All calculation decisions made by the CMS can be appealed through the mandatory reconsideration process and beyond that, to the Independent Tribunal Service. When parents continue to be non-compliant, the CMS may apply to court for a Liability Order. A Liability Order allows the CMS to formally have the debt a paying parent owes legally recognised in a court of law and is required before the CMS can take certain other enforcement actions. The paying parent is given the opportunity to attend a Liability Order hearing. Following a Liability Order, the CMS can consider which enforcement method to proceed with depending on the circumstances of the case, and the welfare of any qualifying children involved. Where appropriate, the CMS may choose to return to court to pursue further enforcement. This could lead to a magistrates’ court disqualifying a parent from holding or obtaining a driving licence for up to two years or committing them to prison for a maximum of six weeks. Throughout this process, the paying parent has the right of appeal to a court of law against the ongoing legal action. The level of court may differ, depending on the enforcement measure being appealed. Most appeals are made to a magistrates’ or county court, or in Scotland to the Sheriff Court. There is also a robust complaints process, which gives parents opportunities to seek redress when the CMS does not meet their expectations. When a client is dissatisfied, the CMS tries to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, without the need for a formal complaint. If the client remains dissatisfied, the Department for Work and Pensions Complaints Team looks at and responds to their complaint. After that, they can raise it with the Independent Case Examiner and finally with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, through their Member of Parliament.

Whether her Department plans to conduct a full audit of Child Maintenance Service accounts and third-party payments in the last ten years.

Since 2012 the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) has been an operational directorate of the Department for Work and Pensions. The operational costs of running the CMS are included within the overall Departmental accounts that are published annually. These accounts are audited every year by the National Audit Office and a report is prepared for Parliament by the Comptroller and Auditor General. These are available at the following link: DWP annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK The monies received in and paid out by the Child Maintenance Service are reported in separate accounts, which are also published annually. These are audited every year by the National Audit Office and a report is prepared for Parliament by the Comptroller and Auditor General. These are available at the following link: Child maintenance: client funds accounts - GOV.UK