Written questions by Johnson.

What steps she is taking to minimise unnecessary data (a) collection and (b) sharing through Equifax during the fee waiver application process.

The Home Office have had contracts to enable financial checking since at least 2014 and therefore financial checks may have been used as part of fee waiver considerations from this date.As outlined in the Fee Waiver guidance, checks may be undertaken with agencies such as HM Revenue & Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and credit checking agencies (for example Equifax or Experian) to verify information provided by the applicant with regard to their income and finances.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applications-for-a-fee-waiver-and-refundsThe declaration that is completed by customers as part of their application outlines the fact that such checks are undertaken. Decision makers will also gain written consent from individuals for checks to be undertaken where we do not already hold it.

When her Department began using Equifax checks as part of the fee waiver assessment process for leave to remain applications.

The Home Office have had contracts to enable financial checking since at least 2014 and therefore financial checks may have been used as part of fee waiver considerations from this date.As outlined in the Fee Waiver guidance, checks may be undertaken with agencies such as HM Revenue & Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and credit checking agencies (for example Equifax or Experian) to verify information provided by the applicant with regard to their income and finances.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applications-for-a-fee-waiver-and-refundsThe declaration that is completed by customers as part of their application outlines the fact that such checks are undertaken. Decision makers will also gain written consent from individuals for checks to be undertaken where we do not already hold it.

Whether her Department confidentially destroys third party data received as part of Equifax checks conducted in fee waiver applications.

The Home Office have had contracts to enable financial checking since at least 2014 and therefore financial checks may have been used as part of fee waiver considerations from this date.As outlined in the Fee Waiver guidance, checks may be undertaken with agencies such as HM Revenue & Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and credit checking agencies (for example Equifax or Experian) to verify information provided by the applicant with regard to their income and finances.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applications-for-a-fee-waiver-and-refundsThe declaration that is completed by customers as part of their application outlines the fact that such checks are undertaken. Decision makers will also gain written consent from individuals for checks to be undertaken where we do not already hold it.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the end of the Household Support Fund on the number of people in poverty.

No assessment has been made of the impact of the Household Support Fund on poverty. The Government announced funding to extend the Household Support Fund for a further 6 months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. An additional £421 million has been provided to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual. The objective of the Household Support Fund is to provide crisis support to vulnerable households in England in most need with the cost of essentials such as food and energy. The Household Support Fund is intended to cover a wide range of low-income households in need, including households with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people, larger households, single-person households, and those struggling with one-off financial shocks or unforeseen events. Local Authorities have the discretion to design their own local schemes within the parameters of the guidance and grant determination that the Department for Work and Pensions have set out for the fund. This is because they have the ties and the knowledge to best determine how support should be provided in their local communities.

With reference to Institute for Public Policy Research's report entitled Who is losing learning, the case for reducing exclusions across mainstream schools, published on 5 September 2024, what steps her Department is taking to reduce recent trends in the number of Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveler pupils placed in alternative provision.

The government has committed to taking a community-wide approach to improving inclusion of all children in mainstream schools, whatever their background. The department will see alternative providers working with mainstream schools to provide high quality early interventions and targeted support for children and young people that is targeted at their specific needs, which will ultimately reduce the numbers of referrals into alternative provision.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of households living in social housing without essential pieces of furniture.

The department does not collect data on the number of households living in social housing without essential pieces of furniture. Social housing residents in need may be able to get help with essential items from their local council through the ‘Household Support Fund’.

Whether the child poverty taskforce plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of furniture poverty on families in social rented homes.

The Child Poverty Taskforce has started urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in Spring and will explore all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. The taskforce is exploring a range of metrics and will make decisions alongside the publication of the strategy in Spring 2025.

With reference to the Education Policy Institute's Annual Report 2024, published on 16 July 2024, what steps she plans to take to tackle disadvantage gaps identified in that report for (a) Gypsy and Roma pupils in (i) primary and (ii) secondary school and (b) other pupils; and whether she plans to implement that report's (A) policy recommendations for closing disadvantage gaps and (B) other policy recommendations.

Every child, regardless of background, deserves the opportunity to progress and succeed in school and beyond. This government is committed to breaking the link between young people’s backgrounds and their future success.The department recognises the issues faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) children and young people and has an active GRT stakeholder group, which includes representatives from GRT communities and the education sector. The group is a valuable source of information and challenge for the department and works to inform thinking, policy and delivery, addressing barriers faced by GRT pupils.In line with the recommendations of the Education Policy Institute’s annual report, the government has committed to developing an ambitious Child Poverty strategy, implementing several initiatives aimed at boosting children’s mental health and wellbeing, as well as investing in improving inclusivity and expertise to support children with special educational needs and disabilities in mainstream schools.To support all young people to achieve and thrive, the department has started work to recruit an additional 6,500 expert teachers and launched an independent, expert-led curriculum and assessment review that will look closely at the key challenges to attainment. The department has also committed to provide breakfast clubs in all state funded primary schools, ensuring every primary school child is well prepared for school.In the 2024/25 financial year, over £7.8 billion of the schools’ national funding formula funding has been allocated based on deprivation and other additional needs. In addition, in the last academic year, of the £7 billion allocated to support 16 to 18 year olds in education, nearly £600 million was targeted to support the needs of disadvantaged students.

Communities & Local Government, whether she plans to respond to the report by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination entitled Concluding observations on the combined twenty-fourth to twenty-sixth periodic reports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 23 August 2024.

The UK condemns all forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia and related forms of intolerance and we remain steadfast in our commitment to combatting it, at home and abroad. This includes bringing forward new legislation to tackle persistent racial inequalities.We recognise the important work of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and are committed to working with them to ensure that no one should have to endure racism. In accordance with the Convention and as per the process outlined in the Committee’s report, we will be considering the Committee’s recommendations and will provide an update to the Committee on specific recommendations by August 2025, followed by a full periodic report on our progress by April 2028.

How many children attend special educational needs schools by (a) sex, (b) ethnicity, (c) free school meals status and (d) region.

Information on children attending special schools is reported within the school census, with the most recent publication available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics. To access the data, use a table builder to find the required information. An example of the outputs from the table builder is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/06951e44-abeb-4c2b-4111-08dce44cbd16.

How many children are registered at pupil referral units by (a) sex, (b) ethnicity, (c) free school meals status and (d) region.

Information on pupil referral units is reported within the school census. The most recent publication is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics. By following this link you will be able to use a table builder to find the information that you require. One example of the outputs from the table builder can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/90137e0b-149c-42fc-410d-08dce44cbd16.

If she will publish an equality impact assessment of the potential impact on groups with protected characteristics of the counter-extremism strategy review.

The Home Secretary has commissioned a rapid review of extremism and our current approach to tackling this issue. We are reviewing a range of work, as well as engaging and learning from a range of voices across government, academia, communities and international partners.This review is due to conclude in the autumn and will provide a series of recommendations, action subject to scrutiny and assessment in the usual way.

Whether there will a formal consultation process for her Department's rapid review of extremism policy.

The Home Secretary has commissioned a rapid review of extremism and our current approach to tackling this issue. We are reviewing a range of work, as well as engaging and learning from a range of voices across government, academia, communities and international partners.This review is due to conclude in the autumn and will provide a series of recommendations, action subject to scrutiny and assessment in the usual way.

What steps she plans to take to ensure that her Department's new counter-extremism strategy effectively distinguishes between (a) legitimate political or religious expression and (b) actions that pose a genuine threat.

The Home Secretary has commissioned a rapid review of extremism and our current approach to tackling this issue. We are reviewing a range of work, as well as engaging and learning from a range of voices across government, academia, communities and international partners.This review is due to conclude in the autumn and will provide a series of recommendations, action subject to scrutiny and assessment in the usual way.

Whether she plans to publish (a) the terms of reference for, (b) details of who will be involved in and (c) details of a consultation process for the review of her Department's counter-extremism strategy.

The Home Secretary has commissioned a rapid review of extremism and our current approach to tackling this issue. We are reviewing a range of work, as well as engaging and learning from a range of voices across government, academia, communities and international partners.This review is due to conclude in the autumn and will provide a series of recommendations, action subject to scrutiny and assessment in the usual way.

What steps she plans to take to (a) monitor and (b) evaluate the (i) fairness, (ii) effectiveness and (iii) proportionality new measures introduced following her Department's rapid review of extremism policy.

The Home Secretary has commissioned a rapid review of extremism and our current approach to tackling this issue. We are reviewing a range of work, as well as engaging and learning from a range of voices across government, academia, communities and international partners.This review is due to conclude in the autumn and will provide a series of recommendations, action subject to scrutiny and assessment in the usual way.

What her Department's planned timetable is for its rapid review of extremism policy.

The Home Secretary has commissioned a rapid review of extremism and our current approach to tackling this issue. We are reviewing a range of work, as well as engaging and learning from a range of voices across government, academia, communities and international partners.This review is due to conclude in the autumn and will provide a series of recommendations, action subject to scrutiny and assessment in the usual way.