Written questions by McMurdock.

What guidance her Department provides to (a) employers, (b) landlords and (c) other entities to ensure they properly understand and respect the rights of people with spent convictions.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (the ROA) sets out when an offender is considered to be ‘rehabilitated’ for the purposes of the Act and sets out the relevant rehabilitation periods for cautions and convictions, i.e. when a caution or conviction becomes ‘spent’. Where an offender is rehabilitated for the purposes of the ROA, the ROA provides that they are entitled to withhold the fact of, or information about their spent cautions or convictions. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (exceptions) order 1975 creates exceptions with the effect that in some circumstances, spent as well as unspent cautions and convictions must be disclosed and may be taken into account when assessing a person’s suitability for certain positions. This balances the protection of the public with allowing ex-offenders to move on with their lives. We are carefully assessing the evidence in this space before considering whether adjustments to the regime are necessary.An individual can check if a conviction or caution is spent or unspent via the GOV.UK Disclosure Checker: Check if you need to tell someone about your criminal record: Check if your conviction or caution is spent - GOV.UK. We provide information, advice and guidance for employers, landlords and other entities on how they should implement the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA). This can be found on The GOV.UK guidance on the ROA. The guidance is clear that balanced judgements should be made and factors such as the person’s age at the time of the offence, the nature of the offence, how long ago the offence was committed, its relevance to the application or post in question, and what else is known about the persons conduct should be considered. We also provide good practice resources on hiring prison leavers via the New Futures Network. If an employer is unsure what check can be requested, they can contact the Disclosure and Barring Service.As part of the Government's plan to Make Work Pay, the Employment Rights Bill is repealing the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal protection. By making this a ‘day one’ right, millions of employees will have protection against being arbitrarily fired by their employer. The Government is taking steps to support those with criminal convictions. Employees with spent convictions will be able claim unfair dismissal from day one (excluding those roles covered by the Exceptions Order). Reforms of unfair dismissal will take effect no sooner than autumn 2026.Organisations in the UK that process personal data must comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). Oversight and enforcement of these data protection laws are carried out independently of the government by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Under these laws, individuals have several rights concerning their personal data, including the right to request its erasure - commonly referred to as the ‘right to be forgotten’. The ICO, as the UK’s independent data protection regulator, provides comprehensive guidance on its website.

What plans her Department has to strengthen the protection of people with spent convictions, in the context of technological advancements in data sharing.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (the ROA) sets out when an offender is considered to be ‘rehabilitated’ for the purposes of the Act and sets out the relevant rehabilitation periods for cautions and convictions, i.e. when a caution or conviction becomes ‘spent’. Where an offender is rehabilitated for the purposes of the ROA, the ROA provides that they are entitled to withhold the fact of, or information about their spent cautions or convictions. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (exceptions) order 1975 creates exceptions with the effect that in some circumstances, spent as well as unspent cautions and convictions must be disclosed and may be taken into account when assessing a person’s suitability for certain positions. This balances the protection of the public with allowing ex-offenders to move on with their lives. We are carefully assessing the evidence in this space before considering whether adjustments to the regime are necessary.An individual can check if a conviction or caution is spent or unspent via the GOV.UK Disclosure Checker: Check if you need to tell someone about your criminal record: Check if your conviction or caution is spent - GOV.UK. We provide information, advice and guidance for employers, landlords and other entities on how they should implement the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA). This can be found on The GOV.UK guidance on the ROA. The guidance is clear that balanced judgements should be made and factors such as the person’s age at the time of the offence, the nature of the offence, how long ago the offence was committed, its relevance to the application or post in question, and what else is known about the persons conduct should be considered. We also provide good practice resources on hiring prison leavers via the New Futures Network. If an employer is unsure what check can be requested, they can contact the Disclosure and Barring Service.As part of the Government's plan to Make Work Pay, the Employment Rights Bill is repealing the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal protection. By making this a ‘day one’ right, millions of employees will have protection against being arbitrarily fired by their employer. The Government is taking steps to support those with criminal convictions. Employees with spent convictions will be able claim unfair dismissal from day one (excluding those roles covered by the Exceptions Order). Reforms of unfair dismissal will take effect no sooner than autumn 2026.Organisations in the UK that process personal data must comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). Oversight and enforcement of these data protection laws are carried out independently of the government by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Under these laws, individuals have several rights concerning their personal data, including the right to request its erasure - commonly referred to as the ‘right to be forgotten’. The ICO, as the UK’s independent data protection regulator, provides comprehensive guidance on its website.

Whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (the ROA) sets out when an offender is considered to be ‘rehabilitated’ for the purposes of the Act and sets out the relevant rehabilitation periods for cautions and convictions, i.e. when a caution or conviction becomes ‘spent’. Where an offender is rehabilitated for the purposes of the ROA, the ROA provides that they are entitled to withhold the fact of, or information about their spent cautions or convictions. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (exceptions) order 1975 creates exceptions with the effect that in some circumstances, spent as well as unspent cautions and convictions must be disclosed and may be taken into account when assessing a person’s suitability for certain positions. This balances the protection of the public with allowing ex-offenders to move on with their lives. We are carefully assessing the evidence in this space before considering whether adjustments to the regime are necessary.An individual can check if a conviction or caution is spent or unspent via the GOV.UK Disclosure Checker: Check if you need to tell someone about your criminal record: Check if your conviction or caution is spent - GOV.UK. We provide information, advice and guidance for employers, landlords and other entities on how they should implement the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA). This can be found on The GOV.UK guidance on the ROA. The guidance is clear that balanced judgements should be made and factors such as the person’s age at the time of the offence, the nature of the offence, how long ago the offence was committed, its relevance to the application or post in question, and what else is known about the persons conduct should be considered. We also provide good practice resources on hiring prison leavers via the New Futures Network. If an employer is unsure what check can be requested, they can contact the Disclosure and Barring Service.As part of the Government's plan to Make Work Pay, the Employment Rights Bill is repealing the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal protection. By making this a ‘day one’ right, millions of employees will have protection against being arbitrarily fired by their employer. The Government is taking steps to support those with criminal convictions. Employees with spent convictions will be able claim unfair dismissal from day one (excluding those roles covered by the Exceptions Order). Reforms of unfair dismissal will take effect no sooner than autumn 2026.Organisations in the UK that process personal data must comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). Oversight and enforcement of these data protection laws are carried out independently of the government by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Under these laws, individuals have several rights concerning their personal data, including the right to request its erasure - commonly referred to as the ‘right to be forgotten’. The ICO, as the UK’s independent data protection regulator, provides comprehensive guidance on its website.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increase in National Insurance contributions on the services sector.

An assessment of the changes to Employers’ National Insurance has been published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact Note, including impacts on the exchequer, the economy, individuals, households and families, equalities, and businesses including civil society organisations, alongside details on monitoring and evaluation.  Tax information and impact notes - GOV.UKThe government is protecting the smallest businesses from changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that in 2025-26, 865,000 employers (43%) will pay no NICs at all. We are reforming business rates and protecting the smallest properties by freezing the small business multiplier in 2025-26, protecting over a million properties from inflationary bill increases.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the provisions within the proposed UK-India free trade agreement on National Insurance contributions on employment rates of British workers.

The OBR will certify the impact of the trade deal including the Double Contributions Convention in the usual way at a fiscal event, once the deal is finalised and ratified. The agreement to negotiate a Double Contributions Convention was made in the context of the wider deal, which will bring billions into the economy.

How many Indian nationals have emigrated to the UK to work in each of the last five years.

Statistics regarding UK immigration and emigration are a matter for the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS). Contact details can be found on their website at Making a request - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk).The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by nationality, year and visa type in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on visas granted are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the ‘detailed entry clearance dataset’. A visa grant does not necessarily correspond to the person arriving or remaining long-term in the UK. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Data is from January 2005 up to the end of December 2024.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed exemption of Indian (a) based employers and (b) multi-national corporations with offices in the UK from paying National Insurance contributions on (i) costs to the public purse and (ii) those businesses in each of the next three years.

The OBR will certify the impact of the trade deal including the Double Contributions Convention in the usual way at a fiscal event, once the deal is finalised and ratified. The agreement to negotiate a Double Contributions Convention was made in the context of the wider deal, which will bring billions into the economy.

What information her Department holds on the number of British nationals who have emigrated to India to work.

The Home Office does not hold this information.

What assessment she has made of the effect of neighbourhood policing in (a) reducing crime and (b) improving public trust in the police.

The Home Office has worked with the College of Policing and the NPCC to develop a performance framework which outlines to forces and the public the performance measures which are being assessed to monitor the progress of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.The framework is attached at the following link Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee performance framework - GOV.UK.

What plans she has to ensure (a) appropriate funding for and (b) the retention of officers in Essex Police neighbourhood teams amid increasing demand.

Essex Police’s total police settlement for 2025-26 is up to £434.1m, an increase of £27.9m compared to 2024-25. Of this, £4,495,599 has been made available in the Neighbourhood Policing Grant.Enabled by this funding, Essex Police has a 2025-26 delivery plan to grow it’s neighbourhood policing cohort by 74 police officers (FTE).Funding beyond 2025-26 will be confirmed in the second phase of the Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to ensure that all (a) newly constructed and (b) refurbished public (i) buildings and (ii) supermarkets meet accessibility standards for disabled people.

The government recognises the importance of ensuring that new buildings are accessible and adaptable to meet the diverse needs of individuals throughout their lives. The Building Regulations (Part M) set out requirements for people to gain access to and use a building and its facilities. The Building Regulations are not retrospective; they apply to new buildings or those undergoing major refurbishment. The Equality Act 2010 makes provisions for disabled people who may encounter difficulties in accessing commercial premises, so that disabled customers are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Equality Act 2010 in ensuring that public places such as supermarkets are accessible to disabled people.

We refer the hon member to the answer given to question 36860 which can be found here https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-03-10/36860

What recent assessment he has made of the long-term resilience of small businesses in (a) England and (b) Essex.

Business cash levels have been resilient and have strengthened since the pre-pandemic and pre-referendum periods. According to figures published by BVA BDRC, in Q1 2025, 29% of SMEs were holding over £10,000 in credit balances compared to 23% in 2018 and 2019. SMEs have also increased their levels of cash relative to their turnover, with credit balances amounting to 28% of turnover in Q1 2025 compared to 24% in 2018 and 2019.1The Southeast Growth Hub is where small and medium sized businesses across Essex can benefit from specialist advice on how to scale up, access new markets and receive financial support through the British Business Bank. 1 SME Finance Monitor – March 2025

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of regional differences in the use of cash purchases.

The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require the UK’s largest banks and building societies to assess the impact of a closure or material alteration of a relevant cash withdrawal or deposit facility and put in place a new service if necessary. Assessments are undertaken by LINK, the industry designated coordinating body responsible for conducting cash access assessments. LINK take into account a number of factors including those unique to each location, such as the size and vulnerability of the population and whether to is reasonable for people to travel to nearby facilities, factoring in geographic barriers such as hills, rivers and major roads. The Government is also committed to ensuring appropriate banking services are in place to support communities across the country. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. These hubs will provide small businesses and individuals with critical cash and in-person banking services. Over 200 banking hubs have been recommended to date and over 150 are already open.

What steps she is taking to ensure cash remains protected in (a) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency and (b) other areas where it is used above the national average.

The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require the UK’s largest banks and building societies to assess the impact of a closure or material alteration of a relevant cash withdrawal or deposit facility and put in place a new service if necessary. Assessments are undertaken by LINK, the industry designated coordinating body responsible for conducting cash access assessments. LINK take into account a number of factors including those unique to each location, such as the size and vulnerability of the population and whether to is reasonable for people to travel to nearby facilities, factoring in geographic barriers such as hills, rivers and major roads. The Government is also committed to ensuring appropriate banking services are in place to support communities across the country. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. These hubs will provide small businesses and individuals with critical cash and in-person banking services. Over 200 banking hubs have been recommended to date and over 150 are already open.

If his Department will conduct a review into the (a) supply chain and (b) distribution of prescription medication to pharmacies in England.

Medicine supply chains are complex, global, and highly regulated and there are a number of reasons why supply can be disrupted, many of which are not specific to the United Kingdom and outside of Government control, including manufacturing difficulties, access to raw materials, sudden demand spikes or distribution issues, and regulatory issues. We have drawn on up-to-date intelligence and data on the root causes of medicine supply issues, with manufacturing problems being the most dominant root cause.The resilience of UK supply chains is a key priority, and we are continually learning and seeking to improve the way we work to both manage and help prevent supply issues and avoid shortages. The Department, working closely with NHS England, is taking forward a range of actions to improve our ability to mitigate and manage shortages and strengthen our resilience. As part of that work, we continue to engage with industry, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and other colleagues across the supply chain as we progress work to co-design and deliver solutions. We have plans underway to increase the awareness of our work. Given that there is a large amount of work already underway to ensure supply chain resilience, there are no current plans to conduct a new supply chain review.

If he will ensure that pharmacies can access high-cost, short shelf-life medications rapidly.

In the United Kingdom, community pharmacies are private businesses which provide National Health Services, and therefore, for the majority of medicines which they supply in accordance with a prescription, they have their own buying arrangements. Not all manufacturers supply to all wholesalers and not all pharmacies use the same wholesalers, so there may be some specific manufacturer’s products that a pharmacy may not easily be able to source.Professional guidance advises that where a pharmacy is unable to supply a medicine promptly, if they have established there is not a shortage, then they should talk to the patient to discuss the possible options available to them. These can include:offering to contact the patient’s prescriber to jointly consider whether another suitable brand or medicine is available; andchecking whether the medicine is available at another pharmacy.

How many patients with valid NHS prescriptions for (a) molnupiravir and (b) similar antivirals were unable to obtain their medication within the recommended treatment window in the last 12 months.

The Department does not have information about the date of the onset of patient symptoms, which is the start of the five-day treatment window. The service level from the distributor in the last 12 months was 99.2% for molnupiravir and paxlovid, another COVID-19 antiviral, with the standard delivery being either the same day or the day after, in more remote locations.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure patients can collect prescriptions in a timely manner (a) on bank holidays, (b) on weekends and (c) in general.

Local authorities are required to undertake pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies. Access to community pharmacies during weekdays, evenings, and the weekend is considered as part of these assessments. If a PNA identifies any gaps in the provision of essential services either within or outside normal working hours, or a need for improvement or better access, contractors can apply to meet this need.Integrated care boards (ICBs), as the commissioners of primary care services, give regard to PNAs when commissioning and planning local service provision. ICBs have various tools at their disposal to ensure patients can access medicines through local pharmacies, including commissioning extended pharmacy opening hours and maintaining a rota, directing and funding local pharmacies to open during bank holidays.Patients can also choose to access medicines and pharmacy services through any of the over 400 National Health Service online pharmacies that are contractually required to deliver prescription medicines free of charge to patients’ homes.

What assessment he has made of the efficiency of the (a) storage, (b) procurement and (c) emergency dispensing of antiviral medications for high-risk patients.

Medicines, including antivirals, are stored in accordance with Good Distribution Practice, which is regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. These will typically be held by medicine wholesalers who sell them on to community pharmacies and hospital pharmacies. Individual pharmacies will have their own procurement strategies. They should plan and manage stocks in line with demand, in order to ensure medicines are available to patients when needed.