Written questions by Bloore.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of reviewing how student loans for maintenance are taken into account when calculating Universal Credit entitlement.

No assessment has been made. The primary source of financial support for students must come from the system of student loans and grants designed for their needs. Where a student can acquire a maintenance loan (whether applied for or not) the amount will be considered as income in Universal Credit (UC) and will be taken into account when calculating the overall UC entitlement.

Media and Sport, how many youth centres were closed in England between 2010 and 2024.

DCMS does not hold the data requested. Local Authorities have a statutory duty to ‘secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people’. This is funded from the Local Government settlement, which is almost £69 billion this year (FY 25/26).This government recognises the value of youth centres and youth services, and has committed to co-producing a new National Youth Strategy. This is an opportunity to move away from one-size-fits all approaches from central government, bringing power back to young people and their communities and rebuilding a thriving and sustainable sector. We plan to publish the strategy in the summer.

Whether her Department plans to introduce a panel of independent experts to review IPP cases to advise on resentencing.

It is right that IPP Sentences were abolished.The Government is determined to make progress towards safe and sustainable releases for those serving the IPP sentence, but not in a way that undermines public protection. Public protection will always be the top priority.Resentencing through legislation to give every IPP prisoner a definite release date and post-release licence would result in offenders who are in custody being released irrespective of their remaining risk. This would be the case even where the independent Parole Board had determined, in many cases repeatedly, that they are too dangerous to be released. This would pose an unacceptable level of risk to victims and the public. For that reason, we are firmly of the view that those serving the IPP sentence in prison must satisfy the statutory release test before they are released.The Justice Committee and various organisations have considered resentencing. None have identified an approach that would not involve too great a risk to the public. The Government also does not wish to give false hope to those serving the sentence by establishing an expert panel.We do not therefore intend to undertake a resentencing exercise or set up an expert panel to advise on resentencing.

Communities and Local Government, if she will hold discussions with local authorities on increasing the provision of furniture for (a) vulnerable people, (b) families with young children and (c) people who have escaped domestic violence living in social rented accommodation.

My Department holds discussions with local authorities on a wide range of issues, including how to improve housing quality in the social rented sector. We will be consulting later this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard.In relation to furniture provision, local authorities may be able to provide support through the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally. The Deputy Prime Minister is also part of the ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, which is considering the impacts of living in poor quality housing on children.In relation to those who are victims of domestic abuse and need to flee their homes, local authorities also have a statutory duty to assess the need for and provide appropriate support in safe accommodation. Such emergency domestic abuse safe accommodation is furnished, and workers would provide support for victims, including help with finding appropriate and safe longer-term housing, and sources of financial support to furnish that home if needed.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Decent Homes Stand to ensure at least 10% of social rent homes are offered as furnished.

The government will consult this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors. The Deputy Prime Minister is part of the ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, which is aiming to publish a Child Poverty Strategy. As part of the development of the strategy, the Taskforce is considering the impacts of living in poor quality housing. People in need may be able to get help for essential furniture from their local council through the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all new social housing developments include a proportion of homes to be let as furnished.

The government will consult this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors. The Deputy Prime Minister is part of the ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, which is aiming to publish a Child Poverty Strategy. As part of the development of the strategy, the Taskforce is considering the impacts of living in poor quality housing. People in need may be able to get help for essential furniture from their local council through the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.

How many and what proportion of people claiming the health top-up on Universal Credit are aged between 18 and 21 years old.

Quarterly statistics for the number of People on Universal Credit with a health condition or disability restricting their ability to work in Great Britain are published on Stat-Xplore. The latest release provides figures up to December 2024 which can be broken down by ‘Age (in bands and single year)’ and ‘Stage of UC Health’ (selecting ‘Limited capability for work and work-related activity’). Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required.

What estimate he has made of when the NHS will be meet its target of 92% of people waiting for elective mental health treatment waiting no longer than 18 weeks from referral to their first treatment.

The overall elective waiting list stands at 7.48 million patient pathways, with over six million people waiting. We are committed to putting patients first, making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care.As set out in the Government’s Plan for Change, we will ensure that 92% of patients return to waiting no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015. This includes those patients waiting for mental health services where a referral is made to a medical consultant-led mental health service. The majority of National Health Service mental health care is outside the scope of the elective waiting list and the referral to treatment 18-week constitutional standard.We know that too many people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we will fix the broken system to ensure that mental health is given the same attention and focus as physical health, so that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health support when they need it. We will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, which will also help ease pressure on hospitals.The NHS Planning Guidance 2025/26 includes objectives to increase the number of children and young people accessing services to achieve the national ambition for 345,000 additional children and young people aged zero to 25 years old compared to 2019, and to reduce 12 hour accident and emergency waits. We will also ensure every young person has access to a mental health professional at school, and will set up Young Futures hubs in communities, offering open access mental health services for young people.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that children's voices are included in family court cases.

When deciding an issue relating to the upbringing of a child, the child’s welfare must be the court’s paramount consideration. The court must have regard for the wishes and feelings of the child, considered in light of the child’s age and level of understanding.In most proceedings relating to a child, Cafcass or Cafcass Cymru will engage with children to establish their wishes and communicate these to the court. Cafcass and Cafcass Cymru social workers use various methods to ensure children can make their feelings and wishes clear to the court in their own words and will also submit their own professional analysis to the court.We are implementing reforms to improve the family court experience for all users, including children. This includes the expansion of the Pathfinder pilot, which seeks to enhance the voice of the child and better support survivors of domestic abuse. The pilot launched in courts in Dorset and North Wales in 2022, expanded to Southwest Wales and Birmingham in 2024 and to Mid-West Wales on 3 March. Pathfinder will next launch in West Yorkshire on 3 June and this Government is committed to further expansion between April 2025 and March 2026.

How many people under the age of 25 are receiving Universal Credit.

Monthly statistics for the number of People on Universal Credit in Great Britain are published regularly on Stat-Xplore. The latest release provides provisional figures for the ‘count date’ of 13 February 2025 which can be broken down by ‘Age (in bands and single year)’. The next release with provisional figures for the count date of 13 March 2025 is scheduled for release on 15 April 2025 at 09:30am. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required. There is also a Universal Credit Official Statistics: Stat-Xplore user guide.

What proportion of people claiming universal credit under the age of 25 are living (a) in someone else's home and (b) independently.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

For what reason there is an age differential between the national living wage age band and the lower universal credit band.

Young people in work typically earn less than those over 25 and are also more likely to live in someone else’s household, with lower living costs. It is not inconsistent to maintain different rates of Universal Credit while moving to a single rate of the National Living Wage. Even with the rise of the minimum wage, younger workers will still, in general, earn less. The lower rate of Universal Credit maintains an incentive to work as we continue to support young people into employment and to improve their career opportunities.

How many and what proportion of people who are (a) in receipt of Universal Credit and (b) under the age of 25 are parents.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.Monthly statistics for the number of Households on Universal Credit in Great Britain are published quarterly on Stat-Xplore. The latest statistics in table ‘UC Households 1 – month by family type’ provide a monthly breakdown of households on UC by family type up to November 2024. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required. There is also a Universal Credit Official Statistics: Stat-Xplore user guide.

How many people aged between 16 and 18 were in receipt of Universal Credit on 18 March 2025.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Monthly statistics for the number of People on Universal Credit in Great Britain are published regularly on Stat-Xplore. The latest release provides provisional figures for the ‘count date’ of 13 February 2025 which can be broken down by ‘Age (in bands and single year)’. The next release with provisional figures for the count date of 13 March 2025 is scheduled for release on 15 April 2025 at 09:30am. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required. There is also a Universal Credit Official Statistics: Stat-Xplore user guide.

Whether her Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

The department introduced Kinship leave and pay in November 2024. Other support available within the department includes access to an Employee Assistance Programme, staff networks, Mental Health First Aiders and the ability to request flexible working.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of making the use of Nazi (a) symbolism and (b) salutes illegal in non-academic settings.

The government has a robust legislative framework in place to deal with the perpetrators of racist and other forms of hate crime and expect the perpetrators of these abhorrent offences to be brought to justice. We are deeply concerned about the unprecedented levels of antisemitism we have seen over recent years. That is a stain on society, and we must never relent in our work to root out hatred in all its forms.The government has been working closely with the Independent Adviser on Antisemitism Lord Mann along with Jewish community voices such as the Community Security Trust on the most effective methods to tackle antisemitism. Government has committed funding of £72m for the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant to provide protective security measures (such as security personnel services, CCTV and alarm systems) at synagogues, Jewish educational establishments and community sites until 2028.It is vital that the government continues to offer support and reassurance to communities targeted by hatred and that we are firm in pushing back on those seeking to incite hatred and promote extremist narratives.

How many single parent families are affected by the two-child limit for benefits by the gender of the parent.

In April 2024, the number of single parents on Universal Credit affected by the two-child policy, by gender, was as follows. Single parents household on Universal Credit affected by two-child policy (April 2024)Female201,000Male5,000Total206,000 Notes:The figures above are for Universal Credit only and do not include any households on Child Tax Credit affected by the policy.Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000

Whether she plans to review the age brackets for Universal Credit.

There are currently no plans to review the age brackets for Universal Credit. The lower rate of Universal Credit for those aged under 25 reflects the fact that the majority of young people live in someone else’s household and are therefore likely to have lower living costs. Younger workers also typically earn less as they are earlier in their careers, with the lower rate maintaining the incentive for younger people to find and progress in work.

Media and Sport, what support her Department plans to provide to football clubs to (a) embed improved governance and (b) meet the requirements of the independent football regulator.

It will be the responsibility of the Independent Football Regulator to determine the key elements of the Football Governance Code, including whether independent directors should be included. The drafting of the Football Governance Code will be done in consultation with the FA and other stakeholders with an interest in safeguarding the long-term future of our national game. It is the norm for all corporate governance codes to have detail and guidance on INED’s included, and we do not expect the Football Governance Code to be any different. The Regulator will publish the Football Governance Code, guidance around this, and an annual report highlighting best practice and where certain clubs are failing to meet the standards. The Regulator will adopt a collaborative approach wherever possible and will meet regularly with clubs to ensure they are meeting the requirements set out by the legislation.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the lower rate of Universal Credit for people under 25 years old on those people.

No assessment has been made. The lower rate of Universal Credit for those aged under 25 reflects the fact that the majority of young people live in someone else’s household and are therefore likely to have lower living costs. Younger workers also typically earn less as they are earlier in their careers, with the lower rate maintaining the incentive for younger people to find and progress in work.