Written questions by Hayes.

Whether the Food Standards Agency has offered apprenticeships since 2010.

The Civil Service is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development, and deliver more effective public services.The Food Standards Agency (FSA) uses apprenticeships to develop the skills of existing staff, and also fills some vacancies with apprentices. Commonly used apprenticeship frameworks in the organisation are Data and Digital, and Economics.While data is not available prior to 2018, the following table shows the number of apprenticeship starts in the FSA per year, from 2018 to 2025 to date:YearNumber of apprenticeship starts20185201912020320212202262023102024520251Total33

Food and Rural Affairs, whether OFWAT has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.

The Civil Service is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.OFWAT has made use of apprentices in its workforce since 2014 and recruitment data, where available, has been provided below:Employed as Degree Apprentices:QuantityApprenticeshipStart date End DateTraining provider2Operations (Technology & Infrastructure)Dec 2014Dec 2015South and City College1Professional economist (integrated degree), Level: 6Sep 2024Sep 2028The University of Kent2Project manager (integrated degree), Level: 6Oct 2024Sep 2027University of Exeter2Solicitor, Level: 7Mar 2025Feb 2027DAMAR Ltd1Professional economist (integrated degree), Level: 6Sep 2024Sep 2028The University of KentOfwat Employees who joined Apprenticeship Programmes:1Solicitor, Level: 7Sep 2024Aug 2027DAMAR Ltd1Assistant accountant, Level: 3 (Standard)Sep 2019Sep 2020Solihull College and University Centre1Professional accounting or taxation technician, Level: 4 (Standard)Dec 2020Mar 2022Solihull College and University Centre1Business Administrator, Level: 3 (Standard)Jun 2019Sep 2020QA Ltd1Coaching professional, Level: 5Feb 2022Aug 2022HTP Apprenticeship College Ltd In addition, OFWAT is recruiting for a September 2025 Degree Apprenticeship intake: 2 x Economist, 1 x Chartered Manager, 2 x L7 Solicitor Apprentices

How many apprenticeships HM Revenue and Customs has offered since 2010, by year.

HMRC has made use of apprentices since 2013. This table shows the number of apprenticeships that have been offered and started in HMRC since 2010. It equates to 13,394 apprenticeships over 15 years. Financial YearApprentices starting an Apprenticeship2010/1102011/1202012/1302013/14572014/1502015/16462016/178692017/1811882018/1935332019/2036462020/2118762021/225222022/235892023/247642024/25304 In October 2023, HMRC launched a new strategy to embed apprenticeships across the Department. Since then, outcomes have improved, with successful completions increasing from 43% in 2022 to over 74% now.

Whether Ofqual has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.

This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, to write to the right hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Whether the Education and Skills Funding Agency has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2017.

The government is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.As the policy holder for apprenticeships, the department has achieved over 5% of departmental headcount for the last three years. We offer apprenticeships to fill strategic skills gaps and as a development opportunity to all employees.The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) closed on 31 March 2025, with its work being integrated into the department.The department has made use of apprenticeships in its workforce since 2016 and recruitment data for ESFA can be found in the following table: YearNumber of ESFA Apprentice enrolments starting in year2016320176201850201960202057202156202251202316202426

How many Whitehall civil service jobs were relocated outside London in each year since 2015.

The Places for Growth Programme has been gathering data on relocation of Government roles from London since September 2021. Since then, latest published data shows 21,002 roles have been relocated from London. By year:3,999 roles were relocated in 2021.7,113 roles were relocated in 2022.7,171 roles were relocated in 2023.2,719 roles were relocated in Quarter 1 of 2024 (the latest published data).

What progress her Department has made on ensuring that every school in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire has a defibrillator.

All state-funded schools in South Holland and the Deepings that did not already have a defibrillator received them under the department’s programme, which has now closed.

How many families are receiving support through the Healthy Start scheme in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Monthly figures for the number of people on the digital Healthy Start scheme are published on the NHS Healthy Start website, which is available at the following link:https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthcare-professionals/The NHSBSA does not hold data on the number of families receiving Healthy Start. The NHSBSA does not hold data on local constituencies. The South Holland and the Deepings constituency is included within the local authority area of South Holland. The number of people on the scheme in March 2025 for South Holland was 493.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support creative industries in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

The creative industries sector is one of eight growth-driving sectors identified in the government’s Industrial Strategy. We will publish a Creative Industries Sector Plan to drive growth across the whole of the UK in the late spring.Businesses across Lincolnshire, including South Holland and The Deepings, are able to benefit from support from DCMS and its arms-length bodies.At the Creative Industries Growth Summit in January, the Secretary of State for DCMS announced a series of measures aimed at driving growth in the country’s creative businesses.This included the continuation of the Create Growth Programme, which will receive £16.3 million towards its continuation during the 2025/26 financial year to support high-growth creative businesses to scale up and become investment ready. The East Midlands Create Growth Programme region covers the Lincolnshire area and includes the University of Lincoln as a key partner.Also included was a commitment from the British Business Bank to increase the scale of its support for the Creative Industries, strengthening investment in creative R&D from UKRI, and bringing forward changes so that shorter apprenticeships are available from August 2025, recognising the particular needs of the creative industries.

Whether the UK Statistics Authority has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 7th March is attached.

How many registered dentists were treating patients in (a) South Holland and (b) South Kesteven local authority areas in each year since 2015.

Data is not held on the number of registered dentists who have treated patients. We have provided data on the number of dentists who delivered National Health Service care in the Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which is the ICB for the South Holland and South Kesteven local authority areas. The following table shows the number of dentists who delivered some NHS dental care each year in Lincolnshire ICB, from 2015/16 to 2023/24:Financial yearNumber of dentists who performed NHS work2015/163102016/173002017/182992018/193102019/203202020/212922021/223012022/232922023/24287Source: the latest figures are published by the NHS Business Services Authority, and the figures prior to 2023/24 were published by NHS Digital, with further information on both available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324 https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-dental-statisticsNote: figures before 2019 are not directly comparable.

Whether Ofgem has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.

The Civil Service is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.Ofgem gives access to the apprenticeship levy for professional qualifications, and this has been available for existing employees since the levy was introduced.Ofgem has made use of the apprenticeship levy in its workforce since 2017 and recruitment data, where available, has been provided below in Ofgem’s annual reports and accounts: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/about-us/ofgem-annual-reports.

How many and what proportion of 18-year-olds have taken (a) three and (b) more than three A-levels in (i) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (ii) Lincolnshire in each of the last five academic years.

The requested data can be found in the attached table.Data is based on students attending schools and colleges located in each geography who have reached the end of 16 to 18 study.

If the Competitions and Markets Authority has offered apprenticeships since 2010.

The Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”), formed in 2014, is committed to developing the next generation of competition and consumer protection professionals and recognises the importance of nurturing a diverse and skilled workforce. Through its apprenticeships programme, the CMA offers individuals the opportunity to gain both a recognised professional qualification and hands-on experience in various fields including business administration, law, economics and finance.Since the CMA began offering apprenticeships in April 2016, 125 apprentices have been enrolled on CMA programmes, which is broken down by year below:YearTotal2016 - 2017<102017 - 2018132018 - 2019<102019 -2020272020 - 2021142021 - 2022132022 - 2023172023 - 2024232024 - 202510TOTAL125

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support emerging artists in Lincolnshire.

The Secretary of State announced a new £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund on 20 February. This will include support to museums, arts and music venues across the country and is a critical step that this Government is taking to help create jobs, boost local economies, and expand access to arts and culture for communities.This is in addition to steps already being taken to support arts and culture via Arts Council England (ACE) through various programmes, including its National Portfolio Organisation investment programme (NPO). In Lincolnshire, ACE has provided over £27 million of funding between 2021-2025 to local organisations such as the SO Festival (an NPO), a Combined Arts organisation receiving over £320,000 per annum, that brings international artists and performers to Mablethorpe and Skegness each year, increasing engagement and interest in the arts within local communities.Zest Theatre (also a NPO) is a national touring theatre company that creates work with and for young people which receives £180,000 per annum. They are particularly well known for their outdoor immersive work, including ‘The Zone’ – a pop up creative space for young people aged 11-18 in Lincoln each summer – and installations that amplify the voices of young people in the region.Within the South Holland and The Deepings constituency, ACE supports organisations such as Transported (£275,00 per annum), through its Creative People and Places programme, which is a strategic, community-focused programme which aims to get more people in Boston and South Holland enjoying and participating in arts activities.Through the National Lottery Project Grants ACE has made nine awards, since 2021, across museums, visual arts and theatre, totalling more than £241,000. Also through its Developing Your Creative Practice programme, ACE has supported three individual artists with a total of £33,324 across visual arts and music since 2021.

What assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of changes in the number of 18-24 year olds claiming jobseeker’s allowance in South Holland and the Deepings constituency; and what steps she plans to take to help young people find jobs.

The latest published statistics can be obtained from Stat-Xplore - Log in Guidance on how to use it can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/User-Guide.html DWP currently provides young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need. Spalding Jobcentre works very closely with several training providers such as National Careers Service, Boston College, Tonic Health, LCVS and Net UK. As part of our plan to Get Britain Working, we are launching a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work. We will use the learning from eight Mayoral Strategic Authorities Youth Guarantee Trailblazers to inform the future design and development of the Youth Guarantee across England.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Forestry Commission has offered apprenticeships since 2010.

The Government is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services. Forestry Commission developed the degree Level 6 Professional Forester Apprenticeship with University of Cumbria and Institute of Chartered Foresters which now has 74 students including 30 from the private or third sectors. The first cohort will finish their apprenticeship in September 2025. Forestry England run a Level 3 in-house apprenticeship (formerly a Level 2) which has had 112 delegates since 2013. An additional 16 delegates have undertaken non-forestry skills apprenticeships including mechanical engineering, finance, HR, visitor services and business support.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the projected carbon emissions resulting from steel imports in the next three years.

The Department estimates future greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide) on a territorial basis, meaning emissions that occur within UK borders. This is the approach required by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UK’s Climate Change Act 2008. The latest estimate is published here: Energy and emissions projections - GOV.UK. Defra publishes consumption-based emissions statistics, calculated by the University of Leeds, which include emissions associated with imported goods and services. This can be found here: Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2021 - GOV.UK.

How many and what proportion of key stage four students who completed their GCSEs went on to (a) start apprenticeships, (b) study A levels and (c) start vocational technical qualifications in (i) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (ii) Lincolnshire in each of the last five academic years for which data is available.

The information requested is not held centrally.The department does, however, measure the proportion of students in state-funded mainstream schools who go on to sustain a destination after completing their key stage 4 study. Data relating to South Holland and the Deepings constituency and Lincolnshire can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/7c67e37a-6bf9-4706-9b63-08dd7377d1ad.A breakdown of the sustained education destination by A level and vocational technical qualifications is not readily available, however, the number of students at the end of their 16 to 18 study who studied A levels and vocational technical qualifications in South Holland and the Deepings constituency can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/4dbda504-885f-4ecd-a918-08dd736ca4ba.

How much funding she plans to provide for school infrastructure in (a) South Holland district and (b) South Kesteven district in each of the next three financial years.

School buildings are integral to high and rising standards and need to be fit for the future. The department has announced, for the 2025/26 financial year, capital funding allocations for school condition and for funding high needs capacity.Mainstream basic need allocations have been published for the 2025/26 to 2027/28 financial years. Other funding plans for 2026/27 and beyond will be confirmed following the multi-year spending review.We are increasing capital funding to improve the condition of school buildings to £2.1 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, up from £1.8 billion for 2024/25. As part of this, Lincolnshire County Council, which includes South Holland and South Kesteven districts, has been provisionally allocated a school condition allocation (SCA) of £5,873,159 to invest across its maintained schools. Maintained schools in Lincolnshire have also been provisionally allocated a total of £913,014 in devolved formula capital (DFC) to spend on their own capital priorities.Large multi-academy trusts and large voluntary aided school bodies have also been provisionally allocated SCA, but allocations typically span across district and local authority boundaries. Smaller multi-academy and single academy trusts and sixth form colleges were instead eligible to apply to the Condition Improvement Fund, with outcomes due to be published later in the spring. Eligible non-maintained schools in Lincolnshire have also been provisionally allocated DFC. Final allocations will follow later in the spring.In addition, the School Rebuilding Programme is rebuilding or significantly refurbishing buildings at over 500 schools, including Tulip Academy and University Academy Long Sutton in South Holland.The department has published £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations (HNPCA) for the 2025/26 financial year, to support local authorities to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings, and to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings. Of this, Lincolnshire County Council has been allocated £10.3 million.Lincolnshire County Council has also been allocated just over £39 million of basic need capital grant over the current and next two financial years, to support it to create the mainstream school places needed by September 2028.The department has recently announced 300 successful applicants for the school-based nursery capital grant, including two within the South Holland and the Deepings Parliamentary constituency.