Written questions by Campbell.

If he will undertake an assessment by the end of 2026 to establish if the cost of the The Eligibility Verification Measure provides value for money.

DWP has previously published an Impact Assessment for the measures in the PAFER Act, which included the Eligibility Verification Measure, which can be found here ImpactAssessment.pdf. DWP has committed to update this Impact Assessment within 12 months of Royal Assent.

How many people undertook the Essential Digital Skills qualification in the past two years and how many did not complete the course.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only. In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 23,930 aim enrolments and 19,320 aim achievements on Essential Digital Skills qualifications in England by adult further education and skills learners. In the 2023/24, academic year there were 28,430 and 22,310 respectively. These figures are published in additional supporting files accompanying the ’Further education and skills’ accredited official statistics publication and have been available since November 2025. The ‘Further education and skills’ publication is available at:https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/further-education-and-skills/2024-25.Aim enrolments and aim achievements are separate measures and should not be used to infer progress within an academic year. Additionally, learners may undertake or achieve more than one learning aim in an academic year. Achievement rates for Essential Digital Skills qualifications are published in the national achievement rate tables in the ‘Further education and skills’ publication. The latest published data, available since March 2025, covers the 2023/24 academic year in England and is available at:https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/5137b787-5c7f-41c5-9510-08de4155ee12.

What has been the change in the Gender Pay Gap between July 2024 and December 2025.

The Office for National Statistics releases data on the national gender pay gap annually in October, based on April pay data. This showed that the national median gap in April 2025 was 12.8%. In the previous year, the national gap stood at 13.1%. This release can be accessed here:https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/genderpaygapintheuk/2025 The ONS also produces additional breakdowns of this data, which can be accessed at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/annualsurveyofhoursandearningsashegenderpaygaptables

Food and Rural Affairs, when did the Inter Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs last meet: and what agenda items were discussed.

The Inter-Ministerial Group for EFRA met on 24 November. The group discussed the following agenda items: water quality and collaboration on nutrient management; the Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund; funding; the EU-UK SPS agreement; CO2 Supplies and Defra Food Strategy. A communique will be published on GOV.UK in due course.

Whether she expects to publish the next National Road Traffic Projections in 2026.

The National Road Traffic Projections were last published in December 2022. The Department regularly reviews evidence and data on the drivers of travel demand and does not expect to publish the next National Road Traffic Projections in 2026.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 100839, if he will make an estimate of the number of people who are likely to be eligible for the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme in Northern Ireland.

The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme is a devolved matter and is run by the Victim's Payment Board on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. Matters of eligibility are for the Board.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the responses by private sector businesses to the first 12 months since the publication of the General Product Safety Regulations in December 2024.

In light of the feedback from businesses on the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), the Department has reviewed and updated guidance for businesses and supported businesses through extensive engagement, our Business Growth Service and the Export Support Directory. The Government announced a £16.6 million package to help boost trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, including a ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service for businesses. We also intend to consult early this year on major reforms to the UK product safety framework. Our proposals will take account of feedback received from businesses on GPSR in Northern Ireland.

What has been the estimated change in the numbers of those in receipt of Pension Credit between (a) November 2023 and (b) November 2025.

Caseload statistics for Pension Credit are available via DWP Stat-Xplore. Data for November 2025 is not yet available. The latest available data is for the quarter ending May 2025.

How many visitors to Northern Ireland whose primary residence falls outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland have been charged with offences between December 2024 and December 2025 relating to the non possession of an Electronic Travel Authorisation.

The Home Office is yet to commence the legislative provision that will make it an offence to knowingly arrive in the UK without an ETA. Accordingly, there have been no prosecutions brought on this basis. Further details of how the ETA requirement is being enforced will be published in due course.

When does he expect to receive the outcome of the Prostate Cancer UK-led Transform screening trial.

The Government is partnering with Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) on the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer to find it before it becomes advanced and harder to treat. PCUK is managing the award on behalf of the funders, with the Government contributing £16 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).In November 2025, the TRANSFORM trial began recruitment as part of the initial 16,000 men taking part in stage one, from 2025 to 2027, which will test new techniques against the current National Health Service diagnostic pathway. Although the TRANSFORM trial will run for over a decade, there will be multiple points during the trial where new evidence will be generated, with stage 1 due to end in April 2027.The UK National Screening Committee are working closely with the TRANSFORM trial team and will assess new evidence as it becomes available. This will ensure that prostate cancer policy is kept at the forefront of the Government’s cancer agenda.The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including prostate cancer.

How many people have been convicted of offences connected with the use of illegal number plates on vehicles in the last four years.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for a variety of offences including offences involving the use of illegal number plates on vehicles, in the Outcomes by Offences tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.The number of convictions related to the illegal use of vehicle number plates can be accessed by navigating to the ‘Overall Volumes’ tab and filtering the “HO offence code” drop down for:81403 - Fraud, forgery etc. associated with registration and licensing documents (MOT)81090 - Other motor vehicle licence, trade licence, registration mark, trade plate and registration book offences (except forgery and deception offences) (MOT).

What estimate he has made of the number of veterans living in Northern Ireland who are eligible for but have not yet applied to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme.

The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme was established by the Victims Payments Regulations Act 2020 and is run by the independent Victims Payment Board, administered by on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. Further information is available on https://www.nidirect.gov.uk The deadline for applications has been extended by two years and will now close on 31 August 2026. The scheme continues to be promoted in Northen Ireland through the veterans’ support network.

What assessment has he made of the potential implications for his policies of the conclusions of the report by the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel, published on 5 December 2025, on Business friendly guidance on gov.uk.

The Government considered the issues raised in the Independent Monitoring Panel’s report as part of its response to the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework. This includes a commitment to delivering an enhanced ‘one stop shop’ advice service for small businesses, beyond what is available on GOV.UK, and this is set out at Paragraph 50 of the Government’s response and thereafter. The Government’s response to the Review, and relevant issues raised in the Panel’s report, is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-independent-review-of-the-windsor-framework

If he will take steps with Invest NI and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that the trade deal between the UK and South Korea impacts all areas of the United Kingdom.

The FTA between the UK and the Republic of Korea will apply to all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland. DBT have worked closely with the Devolved Governments throughout the negotiations. Digitised trade provisions and new rules of origin will benefit Northern Ireland by supporting easier export of products such as pharmaceuticals, a key export from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Korea. DBT’s Free Trade Agreement Utilisation team will help businesses understand and benefit from the new UK-Republic of Korea FTA, working in partnership with businesses and their representatives from across the whole UK, including Northern Ireland.

If she will make an estimate of the number of domestic properties Mears Housing currently owns in Northern Ireland which were previously used for housing asylum seekers but are vacant as of 1 December 2025.

The Home Office does not hold this data.

Pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2025 to WPQ 98745, how many (a) vehicle owners and (b) people on the Register of Number Plate Suppliers have been (i) charged, and (ii) convicted of offences connected with illegal number plates in the last four years.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not hold information about the number of vehicle keepers who have been convicted for number plate offences as enforcement of number plates offences is a matter for the police. The DVLA does not have the relevant powers to take forward prosecutions of number plate suppliers. Such prosecutions are taken forward by the police and Trading Standards. The DVLA’s enforcement officers work with the police and Trading Standards to carry out educational and compliance visits to registered number plate suppliers. Enforcement officers carry out inspections to check working practices and inspect number plates on the premises. Enforcement officers can also inspect records held, take copies and/or seize the records. The DVLA’s enforcement officers carry out intelligence led enforcement activities to tackle a wide range of offences, actively working with partners to investigate potential offences. While the DVLA does not take forward prosecutions, its enforcement officers may attend court as an expert witness in any such proceedings.

If she will make an assessment of the viability over the next five years of existing banking hubs.

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, the Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to ensuring sufficient access for customers. The Government recognises the role that banking hubs play in supporting communities’ access to cash and basic banking services. In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Banking hubs were developed by the financial services sector in the context of legislation to protect access to cash under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023. Banking hubs are delivered and funded by industry through Cash Access UK (CAUK), which oversees the rollout and operation of hubs. LINK, as the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network, assesses local access needs following a branch closure or a community request, and where additional services are required, CAUK provides a suitable shared solution, such as a deposit service or banking hub, for cash users in that community. The future viability of banking hubs depends on ongoing commercial agreements between participating banks and on consumer demand for in-person banking services. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 gives the Financial Conduct Authority powers to ensure reasonable access to cash, and the Government continues to work closely with industry and regulators to monitor delivery.

Pursuant to WPQ 3948 Dated 9/9/2024, which areas in the nations and regions of the UK were events held to ensure that businesses become more aware of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Since September 2023 the Department for Business and Trade has attended or coordinated over 70 events (online or in-person) to ensure that UK businesses are aware of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In person events have so far taken place in areas across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and online events have been targeted at UK businesses based throughout the UK.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the Connect Fund reaches communities that have previously had lower application rates for grant funding across Northern Ireland.

The £1m Connect Fund makes awards to strengthen civic ties between Northern Ireland and Great Britain across a range of sectors. I am encouraged by the high level of interest the Fund has received from community and voluntary groups to date. Early next year, a series of roadshows will be hosted across Northern Ireland, including areas with lower application rates, to advertise the Fund and support a broad geographical spread of applicants.

How many people aged 66 and over are estimated in 2025 to be in (a) full time employment, and (b) part time employment.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 15th of December is attached.