Written questions by Murray.

What the total operating expenditure of the Child Maintenance Service was in the 2024-25 financial year.

The net operating expenditure of the Child Maintenance Service for the financial year 24/25 is £105.7m.

How many (a) paying and (b) receiving parents use the Child Maintenance Service Collect and Pay service; and how many (i) paying and (ii) receiving parents will move onto that service as a result of proposed changes.

As of the end of September 2025, there were 317,100 Receiving Parents and 303,800 Paying Parents using the Collect & Pay service. It is proposed to reform the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) when Parliamentary time allows to create one streamlined service where the CMS would collect and transfer all maintenance payments. The precise number of paying and receiving parents who would move into a new streamlined service would depend on a number of factors including the size caseload at the time of implementing the proposed reforms and the choices made by customers.

What steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for the Home Department is taking to tackle covert filming in public spaces.

Everyone deserves to feel safe both in public and online. In addition to existing offences for the sharing of intimate images, we have introduced offences to the Crime and Policing Bill of taking an intimate image and installing equipment with the intent to take intimate images, without consent or reasonable belief of consent. These offences cover images which show the victim in an intimate state, and would capture some content on a public street, such as photographs taken up clothing that show underwear or nudity.We have also provided funding to intensify Project Vigilant across police forces to keep women safe in public spaces. Project Vigilant involves specially trained plain clothed officers observing individuals in public, mostly in the night-time economy, to identify those exhibiting predatory behaviours. Uniformed officers are then called in to disrupt their behaviour, which could include filming women without their consent.From 1 April, measures under the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act 2023 will come into force. Depending on the facts of the case, this could include where the intent of covert filming is to cause harassment, alarm or distress because of the victim’s sex.To go further, in Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls we committed to launching a call for evidence on online misogynistic image-based abuse, and the extent to which there are new behaviours which may not be captured by existing criminal offences. This will allow us to consider whether any further change is needed to future proof the law.

What the average annual amount of child maintenance paid through the Child Maintenance Service was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.The department publishes Child Maintenance Service official statistics every three months, with section 8 of the latest bulletin showing that £84.4 million of child maintenance due was paid through the Collect and Pay service during the quarter ending September 2025

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to her Indian counterpart on extrajudicial killings of religious minorities in Punjab, India.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer she was provided on 9 March in response to Question 117992.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of fuel price volatility on UK construction and haulage firms; and what steps he is taking to protect businesses and consumers from sudden price shocks.

Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor and Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated. We are also engaging regularly with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The UK benefits from strong and diverse security of energy supplies, and there are no issues with fuel supply. The Department for Business and Transport is also monitoring the situation and is in regular contact with stakeholders.

What discussions she has had with (a) Police Scotland and (b) Scottish trading standards bodies on compliance and enforcement activity relating to the sale in Scotland of non-convertible imitation firearms sold as costume, prop and fancy dress items and indistinguishable from real firearms.

The Home Office has not had recent discussions with Police Scotland or Scottish trading standards bodies in relation to realistic imitation firearms that are not readily convertible to fire live ammunition. Chief Constables have operational responsibility for enforcing the legislation which applies to realistic imitation firearms.Section 36 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 makes it an offence for a person to manufacture, sell, import or cause a realistic imitation firearm to be brought into Great Britain and it also makes it an offence to modify an imitation firearm so that it becomes a realistic imitation firearm. Section 37 of that Act provides for specified defences to this offence which include making the realistic imitation firearm available for theatrical performances, the production of films or television programmes, and the organisation and holding of certain historical re-enactments or skirmishing activities.In addition, it is an offence under section 19 of the Firearms Act 1968 for a person to have an imitation firearm in their possession in public without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

What recent assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of fuel price volatility on (a) the haulage industry, (b) the downstream construction supply chain, and (c) projected levels of new housebuilding in 2026.

The price of petrol and diesel are influenced by a range of factors, and whilst it generally takes several weeks for both rises and falls in the cost of crude oil to be reflected at the pump, events of this magnitude can generate short term price shocks. Although the UK maintains a diverse range of energy sources to bolster our resilience, oil is a globally traded commodity. This means that disruptions or uncertainty in any region can influence prices in the UK until global markets stabilise. We are engaging daily with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The Department for Business and Transport is also monitoring the situation, and is in regular contact with stakeholders, including through the Construction Leadership Council.

How much revenue was generated from fees charged under the Child Maintenance Service Collect and Pay scheme in 2024-25; and what estimate she has made of the total annual revenue expected to be generated by the proposed (a) 2% fee on standard Collect and Pay payments and (b) 20% fee on non-compliant payments.

The table below shows collection fees received in financial year 2024-25.Collection fees2024/2025£000(a) Paying Parent Collection Fees Received£56,993(b) Receiving Parent Collection Fees Received £11,141(a+b) Total Collection Fees Received£68,134 The information requested on the total annual revenue expected to be generated by the proposed (a) 2% fee on standard Collect and Pay payments and (b) 20% fee on non-compliant payments is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of reports of extrajudicial killings of religious minorities in Punjab, India.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is aware of reports concerning extrajudicial killings in the Punjab region and continues to monitor the human rights situation closely. The UK Government remains committed to promoting human rights globally, including the right to life and access to justice. Where credible concerns arise, we raise these directly with the Government of India, both through our High Commission in New Delhi and at ministerial level. We also support civil society organisations working to uphold human rights and the rule of law in India. The UK encourages all states to ensure accountability and transparency in law enforcement practices.

What discussions she has had with (a) Police Scotland and (b) relevant Scottish trading standards bodies on compliance and enforcement activity relating to the sale of realistic imitation firearms and imitation firearms.

There has been action taken by the National Crime Agency and police forces in England and Wales against certain types of imitation firearms that have been found to be readily convertible into lethal firing firearms. Such imitation firearms, depending on their features, are subject to firearms legislation and are illegal. An amnesty was held in February this year to allow owners of the certain types of imitation firearms of concern to hand them into police stations so they can be disposed of safely.Discussions were held with the authorities in Scotland about the imitation firearms of concern, including Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), and the Scottish Government, and I also wrote to the Lord Advocate about whether a similar scheme could be introduced in Scotland. We were advised that the operational and legal context in Scotland were different, and a public awareness campaign would be considered to support public safety in respect of these imitation firearms.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposals to merge Section 1 and Section 2 firearms licensing on (a) employment and (b) economic activity in rural communities, including impacts on shooting-related businesses and supply chains; and whether her Department has produced an impact assessment or cost-benefit analysis of those proposals.

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. We intend to publish this consultation shortly.No decisions have yet been made on whether and what changes might be necessary. Our approach will be informed by the public consultation, and we will consider the views put forward before deciding on what further action to take. We will then provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that the Government intends to bring forward.

Whether he has commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to produce clinical guidance on pica.

Topics for new or updated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance are considered through an established prioritisation process. Decisions as to whether NICE will create new, or update existing, guidance are overseen by a prioritisation board, chaired by NICE’s chief medical officer.

How many people were unemployed for over last 12 months in (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh in each of the last 12 months; and what proportion of those people were unemployed for 18 months or more in each month.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 30th January is attached.

If he will set out how his Department will ensure that jobs under the Jobs Guarantee scheme are additional, including whether they represent newly created roles or existing vacancies.

Eligible young people participating in the scheme are likely to have multiple barriers and complex needs which may have prevented them from securing employment. The scheme will break the cycle of unemployment by guaranteeing meaningful paid employment opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. It is a requirement of the Jobs Guarantee scheme that jobs created or sourced under the scheme do not cause existing employees or contractors to be displaced, dismissed, or to have their hours reduced.

What outcome measures will be used to assess the first phase of the Job Guarantee rollout, and when the Department plans to publish the results.

As a part of our recent publication on the Jobs Guarantee, the department has published a draft Grant Funding Agreement (GFA) which outlines expected outcome measures that will be used to assess grants administered under phase one of the scheme.Schedule 4, Part B of this draft GFA outlines the expected outputs and outcomes that may be assessed in Phase One of the scheme. Final outputs and outcomes will form part of final grant funding agreements made with successful grant applicants.We will monitor performance throughout the first phase to inform the delivery of the national roll out later in 2026.

How many job starts are expected to be delivered in (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh under the first phase of the Jobs Guarantee rollout.

The first phase of the Jobs Guarantee will provide jobs to more than 1,000 young people in Birmingham & Solihull, East Midlands, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire & Essex, Central & East Scotland, Southwest & Southeast Wales. In phase one, we expect to make around 150 referrals across the Central and East Scotland region, which includes areas covered by both Glasgow City Council and The City of Edinburgh Council, alongside other local authorities. Maps published alongside our grant guidance show the phase one delivery areas and the distribution of demand across local authorities. These can be viewed here: Phase One Delivery Area Heat Maps - GOV.UK. Phase One will be followed by national roll out of the Jobs Guarantee across Great Britain later in 2026, providing a total of 55,000 jobs over the next three years.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with Ofcom on (a) the annual increase in the cost of mobile data for consumers, (b) the consumer protections available in relation to such increases and (c) the impact of flat-rate price increases on consumers on lower-priced tariffs.

Government engages regularly with Ofcom on consumer issues. This includes, most recently, on Ofcom’s recent changes to annual in-contract price increases rules.Under Ofcom’s rules, providers must set out clearly, before a contract is agreed, how and when any price changes will occur, and that this must be in plain English and presented pounds-and-pence terms. If prices rise by more than was agreed at the point of sale, consumers can end the contract without penaltyOn 31 October, the Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom setting out the government’s expectations on transparency, consumer empowerment and support for those who may be struggling with telecoms costs. Ofcom has agreed to undertake an interim review of the January 2025 pounds-and-pence rules, ahead of a full review in 2027.Government recognises that the impact of flat‑rate price increases on lower‑priced tariffs increases can have a proportionately greater effect on consumers. We continue to engage with Ofcom and industry on how pricing can be made as transparent as possible, and on how consumers can be supported to make informed choices, and switch more easily at the end of their contracts. If a customer does want to move to another provider, under One Touch Switching, this is now easier, including through text‑to‑switch.We continue to engage with Ofcom and monitor the market.

What video footage and imagery is held by his Department from RAF reconnaissance flights over Gaza on 31 March 2024; and whether his Department has any plans to publish or otherwise release any such material to the public.

Since the terrorist attacks against Israel of 7 October 2023, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals, who were kidnapped. In support of these efforts the Ministry of Defence (MOD) conducted surveillance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza from December 2023. The surveillance aircraft were always unarmed, did not have a combat role, and were tasked solely to locate hostages. The UK Government strictly controlled what information was passed on and only information relating to hostage rescue was passed to the relevant Israeli authorities. Following the agreement of the Gaza peace plan between Israel and Hamas, and the release of remaining hostages, the MOD has ceased surveillance flights over Gaza. The last fight took place on 10 October 2025. We will not comment further on detail relating to intelligence matters to protect operational security and preserve the MOD’s ability to respond to future hostage incidents around the world.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposals in the consultation paper entitled A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: statement and accompanying consultation on earned settlement, published on 28 November 2025, on (a) the number of Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders eligible for indefinite leave to remain and (b) the time taken to qualify for settlement; and whether she plans to publish an impact assessment on the proposed English language level B2 requirement and a contribution to the Exchequer criteria.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.We are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy and published in due course.In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.