Written questions by Braverman.

What enforcement powers Ofsted has for after-school clubs.

Ofsted’s enforcement powers are set out in the Childcare Act 2006. The law gives Ofsted a range of powers to deal with persons providing childcare without appropriate registration and registered providers that fail to meet the legal requirements for early years settings.Ofsted’s early years and childcare enforcement policy sets out the actions that Ofsted can take, dependent on the register that the after school club is registered on. Before and after-school clubs can register with Ofsted on either or both the Early Years Register and the General Childcare Register, depending on the type of provision and age of the children they intend to care for. Some providers are exempt from registration if they meet the exemptions set out in legislation. Depending on their registration, they must either meet the statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage, or the general childcare register requirements. The requirements for both registers are set by the department.Departmental officials also meet regularly with their Ofsted counterparts to ensure that the regulations that apply to Ofsted registered providers of after-school childcare remain fit for purpose. Ofsted takes appropriate action on information that they receive about unregistered services and provision on unapproved premises. Ofsted’s process for managing unregistered provision is outlined in their published enforcement policy, which is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-and-childcare-ofsteds-enforcement-policy/early-years-and-childcare-enforcement-policy#unregistered:~:text=in%20appropriate%20circumstances.-,Unregistered%20childcare%20providers%20and%20provision%20on%20unapproved%20premises,-Most%20childcare%20providers.Information about Ofsted’s regulatory and enforcement activity in relation to unregistered provision is outlined in Ofsted’s annual report and accounts each year, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-corporate-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of raising the salary threshold to £45,000 for work visas; and if she will make an assessment of the impact of this on net migration figures.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including the rules on citizenship and refugee settlement, further details of which will be set out in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on pubs.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from these changes by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change. It means employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of foreign nationals who would be fast-tracked to citizenship under the Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including the rules on citizenship and refugee settlement, further details of which will be set out in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with exiled Iranian opposition leaders on women’s freedom in Iran.

We continue to stand with Iranian women and girls in their daily fight for equal rights. The UK was instrumental in delivering the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to release women human rights defenders imprisoned for exercising their rights, and to take appropriate, robust and practical steps to protect women human rights defenders and guarantee their full enjoyment of all their human rights. On the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2024, we issued a joint statement alongside international partners, emphasising our commitment to holding Iran accountable for its rights violations. We continue to support the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which is essential for collecting and preserving evidence of serious human rights violations, including against women and girls. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials continue to engage with Iranian civil society actors, many of whom are in exile, to understand their lived experiences.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to help encourage Iran to improve the freedom of women and girls in that country.

We have not taken legal action regarding Iran's abhorrent repression of women and girls. However, we continue to stand with Iranian women and girls in their daily fight for equal rights. The UK was instrumental in delivering the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to release women human rights defenders imprisoned for exercising their rights, and to take appropriate, robust and practical steps to protect women human rights defenders and guarantee their full enjoyment of all their human rights. We continue to support the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which is essential for collecting and preserving evidence of serious human rights violations, including against women and girls. On the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2024, we issued a joint statement alongside international partners, emphasising our commitment to holding Iran accountable for its rights violations. Our Ambassador to Iran has raised women's rights directly with the Iranian government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies of trends in levels of women and girls in Iran imprisoned for participation in women's freedom protests.

We continue to stand with Iranian women and girls in their daily fight for equal rights. The UK was instrumental in delivering the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to release women human rights defenders imprisoned for exercising their rights, and to take appropriate, robust and practical steps to protect women human rights defenders and guarantee their full enjoyment of all their human rights. On the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2024, we issued a joint statement alongside international partners, emphasising our commitment to holding Iran accountable for its rights violations. We continue to support the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which is essential for collecting and preserving evidence of serious human rights violations, including against women and girls. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials continue to engage with Iranian civil society actors, many of whom are in exile, to understand their lived experiences.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with international counterparts on improving women’s freedom in Iran.

We continue to stand with Iranian women and girls in their daily fight for equal rights. The UK was instrumental in delivering the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to release women human rights defenders imprisoned for exercising their rights, and to take appropriate, robust and practical steps to protect women human rights defenders and guarantee their full enjoyment of all their human rights. On the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2024, we issued a joint statement alongside international partners, emphasising our commitment to holding Iran accountable for its rights violations. We continue to support the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which is essential for collecting and preserving evidence of serious human rights violations, including against women and girls. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials continue to engage with Iranian civil society actors, many of whom are in exile, to understand their lived experiences.

If her Department will make an estimate of the number of families that are unable to reclaim prepaid fees when an after-school club ceases trading.

The department does not hold this information.The Childcare Act 2006 places a duty on local authorities to make sure that there are enough childcare places within its locality for working parents, or for parents who are studying or training for employment, for children aged 0 to 14, or up to 18 for disabled children. In the unlikely event that a parent's childcare provider becomes insolvent or goes bankrupt, parents can contact their local authority who can provide guidance and resources to help them transition to a new provider.

Whether her Department plans to increase the foster care allowance for children in kinship care.

The government recognises the important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children. They often take on this role at a time when they were least expecting to raise a family, and the department recognises the challenges they face.In October 2024, the government announced £40 million to trial a new kinship allowance in some local authorities in England. We will test whether paying an allowance can help increase the number of children taken in by kinship carers. ​​We will share further details and the process for selecting local authorities in due course.​Local authorities have the powers to provide a range of services, including financial support, to support children and families. As local authorities know their carers best, they have the power to decide what financial support should be provided, and any payments should be made in accordance with their model for assessing needs. The government does not set a maximum or minimum allowance. While the government recognises the financial constraints on local authorities, guidance makes it clear that children and young people should receive the support that they and their carers need to safeguard and promote their welfare.

Whether her Department has made a comparative assessment of access to police widow pensions for women who (a) cohabit and (b) remarry in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland.

The 2015 police pension scheme is the scheme currently open to serving police officers. This scheme provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. The introduction of the 2006 police pension scheme meant that all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme with such survivor benefits.Prior to 2006, the 1987 police pension scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation. When the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended from 1 April 2015 by the previous government, estimates of the cost were made. There are no plans at this time to make any further estimates or undertake comparative assessments that might lead to changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme.Policing is a devolved matter in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Decisions of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive should not form a precedent without due consideration of the Government’s continuing duty to ensure that public services are affordable, sustainable and fair in England and Wales.A justification was made under the previous government for allowing all surviving partners of Armed Forces pension scheme members to retain their survivor’s pension for life, relating to the combination of factors that apply specifically to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Whether her Department has made a comparative assessment of access to widow pensions for women who (a) cohabit and (b) remarry for widows of (i) police and (ii) armed forces personnel.

The 2015 police pension scheme is the scheme currently open to serving police officers. This scheme provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. The introduction of the 2006 police pension scheme meant that all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme with such survivor benefits.Prior to 2006, the 1987 police pension scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation. When the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended from 1 April 2015 by the previous government, estimates of the cost were made. There are no plans at this time to make any further estimates or undertake comparative assessments that might lead to changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme.Policing is a devolved matter in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Decisions of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive should not form a precedent without due consideration of the Government’s continuing duty to ensure that public services are affordable, sustainable and fair in England and Wales.A justification was made under the previous government for allowing all surviving partners of Armed Forces pension scheme members to retain their survivor’s pension for life, relating to the combination of factors that apply specifically to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of existing levels of kinship care.

The department is committed to supporting kinship carers and ensuring that children in kinship care arrangements have the opportunity to thrive. This includes removing barriers from carers coming forward, where that is in the child’s best interests. At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced a £40 million package to trial a new kinship allowance to test whether paying an allowance to cover the additional costs of supporting the child can help increase the number of children taken in by family members and friends. This is the single biggest investment made by government in kinship care to date.Unlike in foster care, there is no general pool of kinship carers to recruit from. Kinship arrangements happen when a specific child cannot remain with their parents, and a relative or close family friend steps in, often at short notice. As such, terms like ‘recruitment’ or ‘adequate levels’ do not apply in the same way. Instead, the department’s focus is on ensuring that when these situations arise, families are supported to step forward.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of police widows who lose access to their survivor's pension when they cohabit or remarry.

The 2015 police pension scheme is the scheme currently open to serving police officers. This scheme provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. The introduction of the 2006 police pension scheme meant that all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme with such survivor benefits.Prior to 2006, the 1987 police pension scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation. When the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended from 1 April 2015 by the previous government, estimates of the cost were made. There are no plans at this time to make any further estimates or undertake comparative assessments that might lead to changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme.Policing is a devolved matter in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Decisions of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive should not form a precedent without due consideration of the Government’s continuing duty to ensure that public services are affordable, sustainable and fair in England and Wales.A justification was made under the previous government for allowing all surviving partners of Armed Forces pension scheme members to retain their survivor’s pension for life, relating to the combination of factors that apply specifically to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Whether her Department plans to take steps to encourage kinship role recruitment.

The department is committed to supporting kinship carers and ensuring that children in kinship care arrangements have the opportunity to thrive. This includes removing barriers from carers coming forward, where that is in the child’s best interests. At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced a £40 million package to trial a new kinship allowance to test whether paying an allowance to cover the additional costs of supporting the child can help increase the number of children taken in by family members and friends. This is the single biggest investment made by government in kinship care to date.Unlike in foster care, there is no general pool of kinship carers to recruit from. Kinship arrangements happen when a specific child cannot remain with their parents, and a relative or close family friend steps in, often at short notice. As such, terms like ‘recruitment’ or ‘adequate levels’ do not apply in the same way. Instead, the department’s focus is on ensuring that when these situations arise, families are supported to step forward.

Whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure full kinship support to all recipients of kinship care.

The government recognises the important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children.Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are seeking to mandate local authorities to publish a kinship local offer which sets out the information and support in a local authority's area for children living in kinship care and kinship carers. The measure will also define what kinship care is for the purpose of the requirement of the kinship care local offer. These measures will make it clear for local authorities, schools and other statutory services what support is available to those involved in a kinship arrangement.In addition, in October 2024, the department published the kinship care statutory guidance for local authorities, which outlines the framework for the provision of support for kinship families. We have also recently announced a £40 million package to trial a new kinship allowance.The government is also extending the delivery of over 140 peer support groups across England, available for all kinship carers to access, where they can come together to share stories, exchange advice and support each other. We are also delivering a package of training and support that all kinship carers across England can access.

Whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that police widows do not lose access to their survivor's pension if they cohabit or remarry.

The 2015 police pension scheme is the scheme currently open to serving police officers. This scheme provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. The introduction of the 2006 police pension scheme meant that all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme with such survivor benefits.Prior to 2006, the 1987 police pension scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation. When the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended from 1 April 2015 by the previous government, estimates of the cost were made. There are no plans at this time to make any further estimates or undertake comparative assessments that might lead to changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme.Policing is a devolved matter in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Decisions of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive should not form a precedent without due consideration of the Government’s continuing duty to ensure that public services are affordable, sustainable and fair in England and Wales.A justification was made under the previous government for allowing all surviving partners of Armed Forces pension scheme members to retain their survivor’s pension for life, relating to the combination of factors that apply specifically to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of her Department's processes for monitoring after-school clubs' compliance with Ofsted registration requirements; and whether she plans to improve these monitoring processes.

Before and after-school clubs can register with Ofsted on either or both the Early Years Register and the General Childcare Register, depending on the type of provision and age of the children they intend to care for. Some providers are exempt from registration if they meet the exemptions set out in legislation. Depending on their registration, they must either meet the statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage, or the general childcare register requirements. The requirements for both registers are set by the department.It is Ofsted’s role to monitor compliance with these registration requirements. Ofsted reports to Parliament through its annual report and official statistics publications about inspection, regulatory activity and compliance with the department’s legal requirements. Officials also meet regularly with their Ofsted counterparts to ensure that the regulations that apply to Ofsted registered providers of after-school childcare remain fit for purpose.Ofsted takes appropriate action on information that they receive about unregistered services and provision on unapproved premises. Ofsted’s process for managing unregistered provision is outlined in their published enforcement policy, accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-and-childcare-ofsteds-enforcement-policy/early-years-and-childcare-enforcement-policy#unregistered:~:text=in%20appropriate%20circumstances.-,Unregistered%20childcare%20providers%20and%20provision%20on%20unapproved%20premises,-Most%20childcare%20providers.Information about Ofsted’s regulatory and enforcement activity in relation to unregistered provision is outlined in Ofsted’s annual report and accounts each year. This is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-corporate-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024.

Whether her Department plans to strengthen regulations on the (a) qualifications and (b) safety requirements for (i) people and (ii) groups that run after-school clubs.

Before and after-school clubs can register with Ofsted on either or both the Early Years Register and the General Childcare Register, depending on the type of provision and age of the children they intend to care for. Some providers are exempt from registration if they meet the exemptions set out in legislation. Depending on their registration, they must either meet the statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage, or the general childcare register requirements. The requirements for both registers are set by the department.It is Ofsted’s role to monitor compliance with these registration requirements. Ofsted reports to Parliament through its annual report and official statistics publications about inspection, regulatory activity and compliance with the department’s legal requirements. Officials also meet regularly with their Ofsted counterparts to ensure that the regulations that apply to Ofsted registered providers of after-school childcare remain fit for purpose.Ofsted takes appropriate action on information that they receive about unregistered services and provision on unapproved premises. Ofsted’s process for managing unregistered provision is outlined in their published enforcement policy, accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-and-childcare-ofsteds-enforcement-policy/early-years-and-childcare-enforcement-policy#unregistered:~:text=in%20appropriate%20circumstances.-,Unregistered%20childcare%20providers%20and%20provision%20on%20unapproved%20premises,-Most%20childcare%20providers.Information about Ofsted’s regulatory and enforcement activity in relation to unregistered provision is outlined in Ofsted’s annual report and accounts each year. This is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-corporate-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the number of after-school clubs required to be registered by Ofsted that are operating without being registered.

Before and after-school clubs can register with Ofsted on either or both the Early Years Register and the General Childcare Register, depending on the type of provision and age of the children they intend to care for. Some providers are exempt from registration if they meet the exemptions set out in legislation. Depending on their registration, they must either meet the statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage, or the general childcare register requirements. The requirements for both registers are set by the department.It is Ofsted’s role to monitor compliance with these registration requirements. Ofsted reports to Parliament through its annual report and official statistics publications about inspection, regulatory activity and compliance with the department’s legal requirements. Officials also meet regularly with their Ofsted counterparts to ensure that the regulations that apply to Ofsted registered providers of after-school childcare remain fit for purpose.Ofsted takes appropriate action on information that they receive about unregistered services and provision on unapproved premises. Ofsted’s process for managing unregistered provision is outlined in their published enforcement policy, accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-and-childcare-ofsteds-enforcement-policy/early-years-and-childcare-enforcement-policy#unregistered:~:text=in%20appropriate%20circumstances.-,Unregistered%20childcare%20providers%20and%20provision%20on%20unapproved%20premises,-Most%20childcare%20providers.Information about Ofsted’s regulatory and enforcement activity in relation to unregistered provision is outlined in Ofsted’s annual report and accounts each year. This is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-corporate-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024.