Written questions by Johnson.

How many staff in her Department are required to pay the NHS Health Surcharge.

The Department does not hold the data requested.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on (a) exemptions for and (b) flexibility in (i) sponsored visa and (ii) skilled workers visa guidance staff in her Depar

The Secretary of State, and ministers, regularly meet with Cabinet and ministerial colleagues, regarding a range of matters. DWP takes the welfare of its staff very seriously and continues to provide a range of support to colleagues employed on time limit...

How many and what proportion of Parole Board recommendations on moving (a) prisoners serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence and (b) other prisoners to open conditions were rejected by the Governme

In the response to PQ 15952, it was explained that the transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions is a decision for the Secretary of State. It was also explained that there is no current power for the Government to overrule a Parole...

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15952 on Prisoners, how many and what proportion of Parole Board recommendations were rejected by the Government in each of the last 12 months.

In the response to PQ 15952, it was explained that the transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions is a decision for the Secretary of State. It was also explained that there is no current power for the Government to overrule a Parole...

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15952, on Prisoners, how many and what proportion of Parole Board recommendations on releasing (a) prisoners serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection se

In the response to PQ 15952, it was explained that the transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions is a decision for the Secretary of State. It was also explained that there is no current power for the Government to overrule a Parole...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support the British Embassy in Colombia is offering to young protestors who remain incarcerated after protests in 2021.

The UK supports the right of Colombians to protest peacefully. We have raised concerns with the Colombian authorities since the start of the 2021 protests, urging them to investigate any excessive use of force and for those responsible to be held to accou...

With reference to the findings of the Association of Colleges' report entitled The educational provision for 14 to 16-year-olds in further education colleges in England, published in November 2024, whether she

The department has noted with interest the Association of Colleges report about educational provision for 14 to 16-year-olds in further education (FE) colleges in England. Funding for 14 to 16-year-olds in FE colleges is based on the same approach as for ...

How many potential violations of international humanitarian law by Israel he has assessed since 8 October 2023.

The MOD works closely with the FCDO, who continue to assess Israel’s commitment and capability to comply with International Humanitarian Law.

How many and what proportion of Parole Board decisions on (a) moving prisoners to open conditions, and (b) releasing prisoners were overruled by the Government in each of the last (i) 12 months, and (ii) 5 years.

The transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions is a categorisation decision for the Secretary of State. However, historically, before approving transfer the Secretary of State has sought the advice of the Parole Board. Even where th...

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of not increasing Local Housing Allowance rates in 2025-26 on the number of households requiring temporary accommodation.

The Government recognises that homelessness levels are too high and there are a range of contributing factors. We will look carefully at these issues as we develop our strategy for ending homelessness. When reviewing the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), the...

Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on automatically enrolling all eligible pupils for free school meals.

The department recognises the vital role played by free school meals (FSM) and encourages all eligible families to take their entitlement up. There are currently around 2.1 million pupils eligible for and claiming FSM.To make it as easy as possible to rec...

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of additional funding for homelessness services.

I refer my hon Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 12953 on 18 November 2024.

What recent correspondence he has received from David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network.

The Department has received several pieces of ministerial correspondence from the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) since the Government came into office. These have related to how the independent sector can support the Government’s commitme...

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contribution rates on third sector organisations; and whether she plans to provide further funding to support charities

The Government recognises the important role charities play in our society, and has made it a priority to reset the relationship with civil society and build a new partnership to harness their full potential by developing a Civil Society Covenant recognis...

Media and Sport, how her Department plans to engage with (a) the cruise industry and (b) other tourism sectors in the development of tourism planning.

DCMS is committed to working collaboratively with all sectors of the tourism industry to support sustainable growth and resilience across the sector. The Department engages regularly with representatives from the cruise industry, as well as other key tour...

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to engage with the cruise industry; and whether she plans to invite representatives of that industry to join industry groups that her Department convenes.

DCMS recognises the significant role the cruise industry plays in the broader tourism and hospitality sectors. The Department regularly engages with a range of stakeholders across the tourism sector, including the cruise industry, to understand their pers...

Media and Sport, whether she plans to consider the cruise industry’s role in (a) inbound, (b) outbound and (c) domestic tourism when determining the membership of a re-established Tourism Industry Council.

DCMS is reviewing how best it works with industry and local and devolved authorities to drive forward an ambitious plan for UK tourism and the visitor economy. We are committed to ensuring that we work with the whole of the tourism sector, including those...

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect the Tara Park Traveller site in Liverpool; if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the consultation with the residents of that site

I am unable to comment on individual planning cases because of the departments quasi-judicial role in the planning system.However, planning policy is clear that, in respect of Traveller sites, it is for elected local authorities to make their own assessme...

Whether her Department has made an equalities impact assessment on the transition from Biometric Resident Permits to eVisas.

An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was completed on the first phase of the roll out of eVisas to EEA nationals on 9 November 2020, which built on the Policy Equality Statement (PES) for the EUSS which was produced in 2017 and published on the gov.uk webs...

Pursuant to the Answers of 14 October to Questions 7569 on Special Educational Needs and 7570 on Pupil Referral Units, how many and what proportion of children who attended Special Educational Needs schools wer

The department does not hold statistics centrally showing how many children who attended special schools were then registered at pupil referral units in each of the last ten years.