Written questions by McMurdock.

What assessment he has made of the reasons why the youth unemployment rate in the UK was above the OECD average as of June 2025.

The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has been rising for too long, which is why we are tackling this crisis of opportunity with new energy and determination.As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we are developing a Youth Guarantee. Our Youth Guarantee will ensure eligible 18-to-21-year-olds have access to education, training, an apprenticeship - or ultimately guaranteed paid work if they cannot find a job.In addition, an independent investigation has been launched to identify how we can go further to tackle the root causes of youth activity. Led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, the report will examine why increasing numbers of young people are falling out of work or education before their careers have begun, with a particular focus on the impact of mental health conditions and disability. The Terms of Reference can be found here.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) careers guidance and (b) school-to-work transition programmes in the context of the UK’s above OECD average for youth unemployment.

Careers guidance is key to supporting young people into work and further study. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has reported that in England, over 98% of pupils are offered careers guidance at their school compared to an average of 74% across other OECD countries. Gatsby Benchmark attainment continues to improve and in 2024/25, schools and colleges achieved 6.0 out of 8 Gatsby Benchmarks on average, up from 5.8 in 2023/24. The government is committed to continuing to improve careers guidance and ensuring all young people complete two weeks’ worth of work experience which is shown to reduce the likelihood of a young person becoming ‘not in education, employment, or training’ (NEET). In the Post-16 education and skills white paper, we committed to prevent young people becoming NEET by ensuring that those without a post-16 study plan are automatically allocated a place at a local college or further education provider.

What steps is he taking to measure progress in reducing youth unemployment relative to OECD comparators.

The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has been rising for too long, which is why we are tackling this crisis of opportunity with new energy and determination.As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we are developing a Youth Guarantee. Our Youth Guarantee will ensure eligible 18-to-21-year-olds have access to education, training, an apprenticeship - or ultimately guaranteed paid work if they cannot find a job.In addition, an independent investigation has been launched to identify how we can go further to tackle the root causes of youth activity. Led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, the report will examine why increasing numbers of young people are falling out of work or education before their careers have begun, with a particular focus on the impact of mental health conditions and disability. The Terms of Reference can be found here.

What steps she is taking to support higher education providers to (a) diversify their income sources and (b) reduce financial vulnerability arising from international recruitment.

Higher education (HE) providers are responsible for managing their finances. As such, they must continue to adapt to uncertainties and financial risks. However, this government is committed to putting the HE sector on a secure financial footing so that it can face the challenges of the next decade. Our decision to raise tuition fees annually in line with inflation, alongside refocusing the Office for Students (OfS) on monitoring the sector’s financial health, demonstrates this commitment. The government does not currently have any plans to issue guidance to higher education providers in light of the Office for Student’s (OfS) assessment of the HE sector’s reliance on international student fee income. The OfS is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the financial sustainability of the sector, including risks relating to international student recruitment.

Pursuant to Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87663, what first degree subjects have the lowest share of learners entering priority occupations; and what steps he is taking to improve alignment in those areas.

The proportion of first degree (level 6) higher education learners entering priority occupations by subject is published in the Accompanying tables for the Assessment of priority skills to 2030. This table is copied below. SubjectShare of employed learners entering priority occupations (%)Nursing and midwifery97Medicine and dentistry96Medical sciences81Architecture, building and planning79Pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacy78Allied health73Computing70Engineering68Economics65Physics and astronomy60Mathematical sciences57Chemistry56Business and management53Health and social care51Languages and area studies49Biosciences48Geography, earth and environmental studies48Politics48Law47Media, journalism and communications46General, applied and forensic sciences44Materials and technology44History and archaeology44Combined and general studies43Psychology42Philosophy and religious studies42English studies39Creative arts and design35Sociology, social policy and anthropology33Agriculture, food and related studies32Performing arts31Sport and exercise sciences25Education and teaching10Veterinary sciences8 The DfE and Skills England are working closely together to publish labour market information and support informed student choice, helping provision respond to economic demand and maintaining the breadth of provision needed for a strong and flexible workforce. Many jobs outside the priority occupations are highly productive and needed for the wider economy.

Pursuant to Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87663, what assessment he has made of whether the proportion of recent higher education leavers entering priority occupations is sufficient to meet forecast labour market needs in 2030.

Skills England analysis in the Assessment of priority skills to 2030 sets out that two thirds of the projected additional employment demand in priority occupations require workers with a qualification at level 4 or above. In England, over a quarter of a million (285,000) people enter priority occupations from the skills system each year. Around two thirds (65%) of these are learners with qualifications at level 4 and above, broadly matching the expected education requirements for the priority occupations. Skills England will continue to develop and refine this analysis further, establishing a process and methodology for assessing skills needs. We are aiming to widen the scope of the analysis, covering skills needs at a national, sectoral, and regional level.

What plans she has to monitor the time taken by schools to respond to formal complaints.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has acknowledged the concerns being raised about parental complaints, including the increasing number of complaints being received by schools and the impact it is having on both parents and carers and school leaders, and has been clear that we need to make the system more robust and respectful with a focus on finding resolutions quickly and in the best interest of children.The department is working closely with the Improving Education Together group to improve the complaints system, including by exploring how we reset the relationship between schools and parents and carers so that issues can be resolved informally, reduce unnecessary duplication, and clarify roles and responsibilities so that complaints that schools cannot resolve are dealt with in a timely manner by the right body.We expect to provide more detail on how we will improve the school’s complaints system in the Schools White Paper.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how she (a) monitors and (b) evaluates the return on investment of British International Investment funded projects.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 May 2025 in response to Question 48105.

What guidance her Department plans to issue to police forces on the data of non-crime hate incidents suspects.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of data centres opting into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects scheme on local (a) decision-making and (b) accountability.

The NSIP consenting process provides substantial opportunities for interested parties, including local communities and local authorities, to “have their say” on proposals that go through the NSIP consenting process. Under the Planning Act 2008, local authorities are invited to submit a local impact report, giving details of the likely impact of the proposed development on their area, which the Secretary of State must have regard to when deciding the application.The examination process, which all NSIP applications need to go through, provides opportunity for local communities, interested parties, and statutory bodies to make representations and for them to be considered by the Examining Authority in their examination of the application and subsequent report, which will then be made to the Secretary of State for a decision whether to grant development consent.

What plans her Department has to instruct police forces to stop collecting non-crime hate incident data.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the UK’s energy infrastructure to meet demand from data centres.

The Department’s energy and emissions projections include growth in power demand from computing services such as data centres. However, to ensure a comprehensive view of the energy system, the methodology projects at a broader sector level, not disaggregating specific estimates for data centres. The Capacity Market ensures supply meets demand. It operates by securing most of the required capacity four years in advance, with additional capacity secured one year ahead based on updated forecasts. This approach ensures Great Britain meets the Reliability Standard, which balances cost and reliability to maintain adequate electricity security.

What steps he is taking to ensure that electricity demand from data centres does not (a) adversely impact energy security and (b) increase costs for (i) households and (ii) businesses.

The electricity system benefits from a diverse energy mix, with the Capacity Market ensuring supply meets demand. The Government is committed to ensuring electricity networks can meet rising electricity demand, including from data centres. The Capacity Market ensures supply meets demand. It operates by securing most of the required capacity four years in advance, with additional capacity secured one year ahead based on updated forecasts. This approach ensures Great Britain meets the Reliability Standard, which balances cost and reliability to maintain adequate electricity security. As a part of the AI Growth Zones programme, the government will encourage data centres to locate in areas where their energy demand reduces the strain on the system by utilising excess renewable energy generation (such as Scotland, Cumbria and the North East). The design of this policy is ongoing and will soon go out to consultation.Cost controls will be incorporated, to minimise the risk of any gap between price support and constraint costs appearing on consumer bills.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish data on the use of (a) aid funding and (b) existing assets by British International Investment to generate investment returns in low income countries.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 May 2025 in response to Question 48105.

Communities and Local Government, whether he collects data on the number of data centre developments consented under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime; and what estimate he has made of the total land area associated with those projects.

No data centres have yet been consented under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consenting process.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the value for money of British International Investment’s use of UK aid funding in low income countries.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 May 2025 in response to Question 48105.

What information her Department holds on the number of non-crime hate incidents in (a) Essex and (b) the UK which led to (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful prosecutions.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

What guidance her Department has issued police forces on (a) processing and (b) storing data relating to people who were accused of but not charged with non-crime hate incidents.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

What information her Department holds on the cost of recording non-crime hate incidents in (a) Essex and (b) the UK since 2020.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

What data her Department holds on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded in (a) Essex and (b) the UK in each of the last five years.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.