Written questions by Chamberlain.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2025 to Question 96733, how many of the EASI inspections carried out in Scotland in 2024/25 took place (a) on farms and (b) in social care settings.

The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorates legal remit only extends to Employment Agencies and Businesses.Therefore, EAS has no legal powers to conduct visits to farms or social care settings and has conducted no visits in the sectors queried.EAS does however work closely with The Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) and the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, who do have the necessary powers in the queried sectors.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2025 to Question 96731, how many of the 16 in person visits were conducted as joint inspections and with which other enforcement bodies.

Following my answer on 12 December 2025, in which I stated there had been 16 visits since 1 January 2025, the GLAA has identified a further 36 visits during the same period.Therefore, since 1 January 2025, GLAA Officers have undertaken 52 (not 16) in person inspection visits to farms in Scotland.Of these 52, 10 were conducted in partnership with other enforcement bodies including Police Scotland, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, UK Visas & Immigration, Local Authority Environmental Health Teams, the Health & Safety Executive and the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service.

Pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2025 to Question 96735, how many of the HSE inspections carried out in Scotland in 2024-25 took place (a) on farms and (b) in social care settings.

In the year 2024/ 2025, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out 1,444 inspections in Scotland. Seven of these took place on farms (not including premises predominately involved in forestry or aquaculture); and eleven took place in social care settings. These figures are based on raw live data and can be subject to change due to updates to historical cases. Therefore these figures may differ to the figures published in HSE’s Annual Reports.

What guidance his Department has issued on visits by DWP staff to claimant households.

Our Operational Instructions include a specific section to support colleagues undertaking Home Visits. For context, please find attached an excerpt from our Core Visits Referral Guide. Other topics in this section include content relating to Safeguarding, Communication Strategies and links to Learning and Development products. This content is available to all DWP staff. Further sections related to Identity Verification and Keeping Customer Interactions Safe includes instructional content that supports DWP staff navigating systems, which store sensitive customer data and therefore is not suitable for public disclosure.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support collaboration between Government-funded bodies and private-sector researchers following the identification on 4 December 2025 of multiple biological pathways implicated in ME by the LOCOME study.

The LOCOME study, led by Precision life, was funded by Innovate UK through the Advancing Precision Medicine programme. Reporting more than 250 core genes associated with ME, including 76 shared with long COVID, and dozens of drug repurposing opportunities, these findings have important implications for future ME and long COVID research, diagnosis and treatment development. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) actively fosters collaboration with the private sector by combining the expertise of Innovate UK, which is fully business-focused, with the knowledge exchange expertise of Research England, and disciplinary expertise of their research councils. Innovate UK is well-positioned to collaborate with private-sector researchers on the findings of the LOCOME study.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of the use of the drug Vorasidenib to manage the symptoms and progression of low grade Glioma.

While the Department has made no assessment, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that makes evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS on the basis of an assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness. NICE is currently evaluating vorasidenib for treating astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with IDH1 or IDH2 mutations after surgery in people 12 years old and over. The draft guidance was shared with all stakeholders as well as being published on the NICE website for public comment as part of the consultation which took place between 15 October and 4 November 2025. The committee reviewed the consultation comments at the committee meeting on 20 November 2025. NICE currently expect to publish final guidance in January 2026.

With reference to his Department's guidance entitled Independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, published on 4 December 2025, what steps he will take to (a) engage and (b) consult with (i) children and (ii) parents with lived experience.

The Department is committed to ensuring that the independent review into mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism reflects the voices of those with lived experience.As stated in the terms of reference published on the GOV.UK website, the independent review will work closely with people with lived experience of mental health conditions, ADHD, and autism across different age groups, including young people, and reflect under-represented groups. It will also consult closely with parents and carers, key partners, and wider clinical and academic experts as appropriate. The terms of reference are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-into-mental-health-conditions-adhd-and-autism-terms-of-reference/independent-review-into-mental-health-conditions-adhd-and-autism-terms-of-reference#outputsThe review Chair and Vice-Chairs are currently developing their approach to engaging with lived experience groups.

What steps he is taking to ensure equity of access to cancer treatment and care for children and young people with cancer from Scotland who may receive some or all of their care in England; and what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on this matter.

The Government is committed to putting patients first and providing speedy and high-quality care, irrespective of where patients are treated in United Kingdom. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) works collaboratively with the Devolved Governments to drive forward its objective of supporting people, including children and young people with cancer, to lead more independent, healthier lives for longer.DHSC knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families in England.The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional. Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or a Personal Independence Payment. There are also several charities in the UK who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer.On 4 February 2025, DHSC relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for young cancer patients in England. The taskforce will ensure that the unique needs of children and young people with cancer are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how we will improve experience and outcomes for children and young people with cancer in England.

What data his Department holds on the number of children and young people with cancer from Scotland who have received some or all of their treatment in England within the last five years; and whether his Department provides support for travel costs for those patients.

The Government is committed to putting patients first and providing speedy and high-quality care, irrespective of where patients are treated in United Kingdom. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) works collaboratively with the Devolved Governments to drive forward its objective of supporting people, including children and young people with cancer, to lead more independent, healthier lives for longer.DHSC knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families in England.The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional. Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or a Personal Independence Payment. There are also several charities in the UK who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer.On 4 February 2025, DHSC relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for young cancer patients in England. The taskforce will ensure that the unique needs of children and young people with cancer are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how we will improve experience and outcomes for children and young people with cancer in England.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a fund to support children and young people with cancer with the costs of travelling to specialist treatment centres through the development of the National Cancer Plan for England.

The Government is committed to putting patients first and providing speedy and high-quality care, irrespective of where patients are treated in United Kingdom. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) works collaboratively with the Devolved Governments to drive forward its objective of supporting people, including children and young people with cancer, to lead more independent, healthier lives for longer.DHSC knows that the cost of travel is an important issue for many young cancer patients and their families in England.The National Health Service in England runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional. Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or a Personal Independence Payment. There are also several charities in the UK who provide support, including financial support, for patients with cancer.On 4 February 2025, DHSC relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for young cancer patients in England. The taskforce will ensure that the unique needs of children and young people with cancer are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how we will improve experience and outcomes for children and young people with cancer in England.

How many in-person inspections were carried out by Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority officers on farms in Scotland in 2025.

The GLAA does not record ‘Complaints’ about licensed entities. Instead, it records ‘General Issues’ (referrals from members of the public, victims, workers, etc.) which may or may not be negative in nature.Since 1 January 2025, the GLAA has received 11 ‘General Issues’ referrals relating to Scottish farms.Since 1 January 2025, GLAA Officers have undertaken 16 in person inspection visits to farms in Scotland. These figures include compliance and enforcement inspections, as well as joint operations with other enforcement bodies.As of November 2025, the GLAA has a total headcount of 117, with 2 members of staff currently based in Scotland.The GLAA deploys members of staff from all over the UK to support operations wherever they are required. It is therefore not possible to provide an accurate breakdown of the number of staff who cover Scotland as part of their roles and responsibilities, as this will change depending on demand.

How many complaints were received by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority with reference to farms in Scotland in 2025.

The GLAA does not record ‘Complaints’ about licensed entities. Instead, it records ‘General Issues’ (referrals from members of the public, victims, workers, etc.) which may or may not be negative in nature.Since 1 January 2025, the GLAA has received 11 ‘General Issues’ referrals relating to Scottish farms.Since 1 January 2025, GLAA Officers have undertaken 16 in person inspection visits to farms in Scotland. These figures include compliance and enforcement inspections, as well as joint operations with other enforcement bodies.As of November 2025, the GLAA has a total headcount of 117, with 2 members of staff currently based in Scotland.The GLAA deploys members of staff from all over the UK to support operations wherever they are required. It is therefore not possible to provide an accurate breakdown of the number of staff who cover Scotland as part of their roles and responsibilities, as this will change depending on demand.

Department how many UK Visas and Immigration seasonal worker visa scheme compliance visits were conducted in a) England, b) Scotland and c) Wales in 2025.

UKVI does not produce published data on seasonal worker visa scheme compliance visits.

How many staff are employed by HMRC in national minimum wage enforcement in 2025-26; and how many of these staff are a) based in Scotland and b) cover Scotland in their role responsibilities.

As of September 2025, HMRC employed 442 people as part of its National Minimum Wage (NMW) Enforcement unit. Of these, 44 are based in Scotland. The NMW teams which are based in Edinburgh and East Kilbride are part of HMRC’s National NMW compliance function. These team’s work not only incorporates NMW compliance activity within Scotland, but it also covers activity across the UK. Some NMW compliance activity in Scotland is also undertaken by other UK based NMW teams.

How many in-person inspections were carried out by the Health and Safety Executive in Scotland in each of the last five years.

The table below shows the number of proactive inspections that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has carried out for the last 6 years in Scotland. Six years has been provided, not 5, as the period requested includes the COVID 19 pandemic where additional COVID specific visits which were carried out as a response to that situation. For that reason, we have included the year 2019/2020 for pre-COVID context.Total Number of Proactive Inspections Undertaken by HSE since 1st April 2019 at sites in Scotland Government Office Region 2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25Total with COVID 19 inspections173220851566157013411444Total not including COVID 19 inspections17285591295156913411444k To note: The figures are based on raw live data and can be subject to change due to updates to historical cases. Therefore these figures may differ to the figures published in HSE’s Annual Reports.

What is the total number of Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority staff; and how many of these staff are a) based in Scotland and b) cover Scotland in their role responsibilities.

The GLAA does not record ‘Complaints’ about licensed entities. Instead, it records ‘General Issues’ (referrals from members of the public, victims, workers, etc.) which may or may not be negative in nature.Since 1 January 2025, the GLAA has received 11 ‘General Issues’ referrals relating to Scottish farms.Since 1 January 2025, GLAA Officers have undertaken 16 in person inspection visits to farms in Scotland. These figures include compliance and enforcement inspections, as well as joint operations with other enforcement bodies.As of November 2025, the GLAA has a total headcount of 117, with 2 members of staff currently based in Scotland.The GLAA deploys members of staff from all over the UK to support operations wherever they are required. It is therefore not possible to provide an accurate breakdown of the number of staff who cover Scotland as part of their roles and responsibilities, as this will change depending on demand.

How many in-person inspections were carried out by the Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate in Scotland in each of the last five years.

The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) has the budget for 35 members of staff.EAS currently have one member of staff that is based in Scotland, but all staff can be deployed across the whole of Great Britain as required.Based on EAS management information, the table below sets out the number of in person or online visits conducted at the time due to covid restrictions.Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate – Scotland Inspections (Last Five Years)Financial YearNumber of Inspections2020/20210 (Covid restrictions)2021/202226 (Online inspections due to Covid restrictions)2022/2023292023/202402024/202555Total110

How many Health and Safety Executive inspection officials are based in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales.

As the table below shows, as of 31 October 2025, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) currently employs 899 full time equivalent (FTE) inspector staff in all grades and roles including trainees, managers and specialists with warrants. There are currently 666 FTE Band 3 and 4 inspectors who undertake the delivery of the operational division workplans. This includes inspections and investigations into reported incidents and concerns and where non-compliance with health and safety legislations is identified, the inspectors take regulatory action in accordance with HSE’s published Enforcement Policy Statement. Although HSE staff work across England, Scotland and Wales, these figures are based on the office location where the staff are employed. Job BandEnglandScotlandWalesTotalSCS91010Band 1253432Band 21532711191Band 34029642540Band 498199126Total68614666899

What is the total number of Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate staff; and how many of these staff are a) based in Scotland and b) cover Scotland in their role responsibilities.

The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) has the budget for 35 members of staff.EAS currently have one member of staff that is based in Scotland, but all staff can be deployed across the whole of Great Britain as required.Based on EAS management information, the table below sets out the number of in person or online visits conducted at the time due to covid restrictions.Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate – Scotland Inspections (Last Five Years)Financial YearNumber of Inspections2020/20210 (Covid restrictions)2021/202226 (Online inspections due to Covid restrictions)2022/2023292023/202402024/202555Total110

With reference to the Government's Future of Post Office Green Paper, if a date has been set for the planned roundtable with Post Office and key banks on potentially expanding the banking services available at post offices.

The Government recognises the importance of access to cash and banking services for businesses and individuals, including those who may be in vulnerable groups or require assistance and is supportive of industry initiatives that improve access to these vital services. The Post Office plays a key role in supporting access to banking services. Under the Banking Framework, a commercial agreement between the Post Office and 30 banking firms, personal and business customers can withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. The specific services provided under the Framework are subject to commercial negotiations between individual banks and the Post Office, and the Government has no role in deciding what these arrangements are. The Government would welcome continued collaboration between Post Office and the banking sector, on a commercial basis and will look to host joint discussions with Post Office and the banking sector in the coming months.