Written questions by Hayes.

If her Department will take (a) fiscal and (b) legislative steps to help prevent repeat offenders in the illicit tobacco market operating through high street retailers.

HMRC has a robust strategy to tackle the illicit tobacco trade. In July 2023, HMRC introduced a strengthened sanctions regime for breaches of the UK Tobacco Track and Trace System to combat illicit tobacco sales, particularly targeting repeat offenders operating through high street retailers. Powers introduced under the Finance Act 2022 enable HMRC to apply an escalating sanctions model based on both the frequency and severity of offences. Penalties include fines of up to £10,000, seizure of illicit products, and exclusion from the UK Tobacco Track and Trace system. New powers were also given to Trading Standards to make referrals to HMRC where they find evidence of high street retailers selling tobacco products that do not comply with the UK Tobacco Track and Trace System. HMRC is then able to apply the sanctions model as appropriate to tackle the non-compliance.

How much the Pension Protection Fund has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Over the period from 22/23 to 24/25, PPF spend on equipment to enable staff to work from home has been minimal (less than £1.5k over the period).

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of tobacco excise duty policy on the size of the illicit tobacco market.

Tobacco duty aims to both raise revenue and reduce harm to public health by discouraging smoking. In 2024/25 tobacco duty raised almost £8 billion. High duty rates, making tobacco less affordable, have helped reduce smoking prevalence with the percentage of adult smokers in the UK decreasing from 26% in 2000 to 11.9% in 2024. Strong enforcement is essential in tackling the illicit tobacco market. HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force have had illicit tobacco strategies in place since 2000. Whilst tobacco duty has been progressively increased over time, successive illicit tobacco strategies have proven effective in tackling the size of the illicit tobacco market, reducing the tobacco duty tax gap from 21.7% in 2005/6 to 13.8% in 2023/24.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to require local referenda for local government reorganisation proposals in Lincolnshire.

Local government reorganisation will deliver better outcomes for residents and save significant money which can be reinvested in public services. Simpler structures with fewer politicians can improve democratic accountability as residents know who to look to and it is clearer who is responsible for what We do not have any plans to require local referenda as part of the local government reorganisation process. Under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, Parliament set out the statutory process for establishing unitary councils in two-tier areas. As set out in the invitation letter, areas must demonstrate how the local community has been engaged in developing proposals.

Innovation and Technology, how much the Intellectual Property Office has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Intellectual Property Office does not hold a complete central record of all spending on equipment to support home working as provision can be made utilising office surplus or stock equipment. Information is only centrally recorded where the individual costs exceed £500 or recorded as a reasonable adjustment in line with Health and Safety legislation for Occupational Health.The Office has spent the following on equipment for safe and productive home working:(i) 2022-23 = £27,069.13(ii) 2023-24 = £8250.11(iii) 2024-25 = Zero spendTo obtain comprehensive data for each of the last three years, it would be necessary to contact holders of asset registers across the organisation, which would not be possible within the timeframe for responding to a Written Parliamentary Question, and would incur a disproportionate cost.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Exact costs are not available for the amount the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science’s spent on dedicated home office equipment although they are low for this three-year period.

How much the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Answering the question raised by the Rt. Hon. Member would unfortunately require the Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency’s staff to go through a large volume of data manually, thereby exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold. This is because the information is not held in such a way to be able to filter by the requested category.The Guide to Parliamentary Work sets here out that there is an advisory cost limit known as the disproportionate cost threshold, which is the level above which departments can decide not to answer a written question. The current disproportionate cost threshold is £850, although the limit does not apply to oral questions. The Guide to Parliamentary Work is published online and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work The threshold is pegged at 140% of the Freedom of Information Act cost limit, currently £600, to the nearest £50. Where a change in the Freedom of Information cost limit occurs, the Cabinet Office will make a written statement to advise Parliament of the new disproportionate cost threshold.

How much the Government Actuary’s Department has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) is an office (or workplace) based organisation with a solely UK presence. In line with Cabinet Office policy, GAD expects a 60% minimum office attendance for all staff. To enable hybrid working and to meet requirements for workplace adjustments (DSE), GAD has spent: 2021/222022/232023/24Hybrid working Equipment£6,748.90£5,093.56£7,148.37DSE Equipment£0.00£30.05£677.81Total spend£6,748.90£5,123.61£7,826.18 GAD has no home working contracts in place.

How much the UK Debt Management Office has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) is an office-based organisation with a solely UK presence. In line with Cabinet Office policy, the DMO expects a 60% minimum office attendance for most staff which continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. The table below shows the DMO’s spending on home working equipment for each of the three previous financial years. The higher spend in 2022-23 and 2024-25 was for updated equipment to enable essential software upgrades (87% and 97% respectively of the total spend). YearSpend2022-23£25,0002023-24£4,0002024-25£49,000

How much the United Kingdom Health Security Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The UK Health Security Agency has spent the following amounts on equipment for its staff to work from home in each financial year:£111,213 in 2024/25;£138,665 in 2023/24; and£147,063 in 2022/23.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s (VMD’s) spend on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years is: YearTotal FY2022/23£10,579.77 FY2023/24£6,248.34 FY2024/25£3,235.72 The VMD is unable to differentiate between costs that are associated with the provision of equipment for use at home relating to a workplace adjustment, and formal working contracts versus any costs associated with hybrid working arrangements. Obtaining this information could only be achieved at a disproportionate cost. The VMD, in common with other directorates and Government departments, has agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with social media firms to help tackle algorithmically accelerated misinformation.

The Online Safety Act (OSA) requires social media companies to tackle online misinformation and disinformation that is (a) illegal or (b) harmful to children.These companies are required to carry out risk assessments that specifically consider how algorithms could impact online users’ exposure to illegal content, including illegal mis- and disinformation, and take steps to mitigate and effectively manage any identified risks.Ofcom are currently consulting on a further set of targeted safety measures designed to make online services safer by design, including a new measure on moderating algorithms.

How much the Government Internal Audit Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) staff are provided with IT equipment to enable them to work across multiple locations. This is a managed service provided by HM Treasury, who manage this contract on behalf of GIAA. GIAA staff can request “Work from home IT kits” (e.g., screens, headsets, keyboards, and mice) through HM Treasury. GIAA does not hold information on the expenditure for these requests, and HM Treasury does not disaggregate their information on total IT spend to identify spend on GIAA staff requests. The total spend for HM Treasury Group on these work from home IT kits is noted in HM Treasury’s response to PQ 63519 GIAA provides additional IT equipment outside the managed service to support hybrid or home working, such as to support reasonable adjustments. Details of GIAA’s recorded IT expenditure for this purpose are listed below 2022-23: £10,105 2023-24: £2,474 2024-25: £1,779

How much the Teaching Regulation Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) adheres to the departmental policy of providing workplace adjustments where appropriate. The cost of providing equipment for use at home to facilitate workplace adjustments for TRA staff is shown below:Financial YearCost2022/23£02023/24£02024/25£316.99 Heads of departments have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

How much the Pensions Ombudsman has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Pensions Ombudsman operates a hybrid working model. Therefore, the provision of equipment for staff to use when working at home is made in line with Health and Safety legislation and workplace adjustment requirements. Over the last three years, the following has been contributed to support staff on the days they are not working in the office: £6,868 in in 2022/23, £6,289 in 2023/24 and £2,243 in 2024/25.

How much the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued a range of equipment to support staff in working from home. Based on available records covering the past three years:Monitors: 123 units issued at an approximate cost of £24,600 (£200 each).Printers: 8 units issued at an approximate cost of £1,600 (£200 each).

Innovation and Technology, how much Building Digital UK has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

Between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2025, Building Digital UK (BDUK) followed the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) policy on staff working from home. During this period, BDUK spent a total of £1,909.49 on equipment to enable staff to work from home.Of this amount, £1,609.50 was spent in the 2022-23 financial year and £299.99 in the 2023-24 financial year. BDUK did not spend any money on equipment to enable staff to work from home in the 2024-25 financial year.

How much the Standards and Testing Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is an executive agency of the department and follows our policies on hybrid working and the purchase of equipment for use at home.The department has set an expectation that colleagues spend at least 60% of their working time in the office or another work setting. Employees who work from home as part of a flexible arrangement, and not as part of a contractual arrangement, are expected to have access to a suitable workspace and equipment at their own cost. The exception to this would be equipment recommended as a part of a reasonable adjustment following an occupational health assessment, but such equipment would be charged to a central departmental budget rather than to STA.STA has no recorded expenditure on equipment to enable staff to work from home in any of the last three financial years.

How much the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) provides equipment that enables staff to work across multiple locations, including from home where appropriate. This includes meeting legal obligations to provide reasonable workplace adjustments for staff who require them.However, the DVSA does not record expenditure in a way that separately identifies costs specifically related to home working. Additionally, the Department for Transport’s hybrid working policy is non-contractual and does not entitle staff to additional equipment or to be reimbursed for items to facilitate home working.

How much the Education and Skills Funding Agency spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years.

The department and its executive agencies, including the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), only provide equipment for home working in the case of a workplace adjustment related to a disability and which the Equality Act requires us to support. Departmental spend over the last three years, which includes ESFA spend, on equipment which exceeded £500: Financial YearTotal spend on equipment exceeding £5002022/23£28,103.732023/24£53,675.592024/25£46,576 To obtain comprehensive data which includes spending on equipment below £500 for each of the last three years, it would be necessary to contact individual teams across the department and agencies, which would not be possible within the timeframe for responding to a PQ, and would incur a disproportionate cost.