Written questions by Wilson.

What progress has been made on the Condition Data Collection 2 programme; and how many schools have been assessed under the programme.

The Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme is collecting condition, contextual and building management data for every government-funded school in England. CDC2 is collecting data on over 22,000 educational establishments between 2021 and 2026.To date, the programme has visited 18,248 schools and released 15,912 CDC2 reports to schools, which represents 83% of the total number of schools to be visited and 72% of the total number of reports to be released to schools.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of banning sky lanterns.

An assessment of sky-lanterns was carried out in 2023.The research examined the risks that sky lanterns, and other items including helium balloons, pose to the environment. The research suggests the risks posed by sky lanterns and helium balloons remain low. It also explored a ban on the sale of sky lanterns and indicated this would result in lost economic activity. The research report is available at: https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21420. Based on this assessment, we therefore consider existing controls to be sufficient. Local authorities already have powers to apply local controls to restrict or ban the use of sky lanterns or balloons on council or public land and, according to stakeholders, around 150 councils have already introduced a ban. We also support voluntary initiatives aimed at minimising the risks associated with sky lanterns. Initiatives include a voluntary Code of Practice for sky lanterns developed by industry with Government support to ensure that they are manufactured to be safe and are sold responsibly.

Which fire brigade services have carried out blood tests on firefighters for (a) cancer and (b) health monitoring purposes; and how much does it cost to carry out such blood tests.

Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for the health and wellbeing of the firefighters they employ, and so it is for those authorities to take the appropriate action to protect their workforce.As such the decision on whether to carry out blood testing is for individual fire and rescue services to take, and the government does not hold any central data on the results of those tests.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of Staying Close funding scheme on prospects of children leaving the care system.

Within the 2022/23 to 2024/25 financial years, the department is providing £53 million to 47 local authorities and three private providers to deliver the Staying Close programme. The programme supports care leavers to find and maintain move-on accommodation, and provides practical and emotional support from someone they know and trust, to young people leaving residential and other care placements.The independent evaluations of the initial pilots showed Staying Close found promising evidence that this programme can support better outcomes for care leavers including a 20% improvement in mental health outcomes, a 13% reduction in the number of young people who were not in education, employment or training and a 21% reduction in anti-social behaviour.The evaluations reported that Staying Close supported young people to develop and build the skills needed to prepare for independent living. Feedback showed that young people’s life skills had improved after six months of participating in the project and that they felt happier in themselves. They also showed increased participation in activities, whether education, employment or getting involved with other activities in the project.The department continues to look at the impact of Staying Close and have commissioned the Centre for Homelessness Impact (CHI) to undertake further evaluation. This is due to report in early 2025.

Media and Sport, what progress the Creator Remuneration Group has made; and what steps her Department plans to take to help ensure creators are fairly remunerated for their work.

The government wants to see remuneration arrangements that create the right conditions for sparking and driving innovation and investment, whilst rewarding creators for their work.The governments response to the CMS Committee’s report on Creator Remuneration acknowledges the challenges facing creatives. In responding, the government has committed to exploring the case for a Freelance Commissioner and highlights the new provisions in the Employment Rights Bill. The government is also committed to finding the right balance between fostering innovation in artificial intelligence and ensuring protection for creators and investment in the creative industries. We intend to proceed carefully but with a degree of urgency in this area and hope to announce next steps soon.On music streaming specifically, the government believes all artists and creators should be appropriately remunerated for the use of their works, as this is what allows them to invest their time, effort, and money into creating music. That is why this government is engaging with music stakeholders, including through a working group to pursue industry-led actions on remuneration from music streaming. We will continue to bring industry and creator representatives together to address issues and find solutions.

Whether she plans to (a) continue and (b) expand the Staying Close programme.

This government is committed to providing support for care leavers to ensure they have the practical and emotional support they need as they move towards independence. The department is currently providing £23 million this financial year for 47 local authorities and three charities to deliver Staying Close. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has announced the overall settlement for the department for the 2025/26 financial year. The department is working internally to confirm the detail of 2025/26 budgets and future funding plans as soon as possible.As announced in the Oral Statement in the House of Commons on 18 November, it is this government’s intention to make the Staying Close programme a national offer to all former relevant children up to the age of 25, when parliamentary time allows.This will set the clear expectation that the local authority must assess whether provision of Staying Close support to the former relevant child is required, in the interests of that person’s welfare.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure a just transition to a renewable energy based economy.

The Government is actively coordinating its efforts to ensure a just transition, enabling workers to benefit from the economic opportunities arising from our shift to net zero. To support this, it has established the Office for Clean Energy Jobs, which aims to assist workers and communities at risk of economic displacement by focusing on skill development and training in the clean energy and net zero sectors. The Government’s primary goal is to create quality jobs in Britain’s industrial heartlands, ensuring a fair transition for industries based in the North Sea.

What steps the Government is taking to secure further International Climate Finance commitments from member states at COP29.

This Government is committed to restoring the UK’s global leadership on climate and nature. We are honouring the existing commitment on our pledge to spend £11.6bn in International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026 including at least £3bn on nature, from which £1.5bn will be dedicated to protecting and restoring forests. In doing so, we can encourage member states at COP29 to follow our example. Public finance will continue to be key, but we cannot act alone. A concerted and sustained global effort to boost finance from all sources is necessary.

What plans her Department has to continue funding the Staying Close programme after April 2025.

This government is committed to providing support for care leavers to ensure they have the practical and emotional support they need as they move towards independence. The department is currently providing £23 million this financial year for 47 local authorities and three charities to deliver Staying Close. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has announced the overall settlement for the department for the 2025/26 financial year. The department is working internally to confirm the detail of 2025/26 budgets and future funding plans as soon as possible.As announced in the Oral Statement in the House of Commons on 18 November, it is this government’s intention to make the Staying Close programme a national offer to all former relevant children up to the age of 25, when parliamentary time allows.This will set the clear expectation that the local authority must assess whether provision of Staying Close support to the former relevant child is required, in the interests of that person’s welfare.

When she plans to publish the 2023-24 report on the state of prison estate.

We are considering when and how to publish an ad-hoc report on the prison estate conditions survey, which will contain summary information.In addition, we have also committed to publish a 10-year capacity strategy by the end of 2024 which will outline the steps the Government is taking on the future of the prison estate.

What data her Department holds on the number of statutory maternity pay cases per constituency in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, and (d) 2024.

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is delivered through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), rather than the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). We do not hold information on SMP cases per constituency, however a breakdown by region, supplied by HMRC, is below. 2022/232023/242024/25East Midlands41,90040,90020,300East of England58,60057,10028,900London90,30089,50045,700North East21,10020,70010,500North West66,40064,50032,300Northern Ireland20,10019,90010,100Scotland45,40043,60021,900South East84,50082,90041,500South West47,60046,30023,000Wales26,00026,00012,900West Midlands51,00049,80025,100Yorkshire and The Humber46,80045,70023,000 Notes:Figures for Statutory Maternity Pay are rounded to the nearest hundred.Figures for Statutory Maternity Pay were collected using HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) and were extracted in August 2024. RTI is subject to revision or updates. The location of the claim is based on the taxpayers’ residential address as recorded on RTI.Figures are the number of individuals in receipt of SMP in a given financial year. A significant number of cases will be active across two financial years, and therefore counted in both. As the 2024-25 financial year is still ongoing, figures are correct up until May 2024.

For what reason the respiratory syncytial virus vaccination programme does not include people who are 80 and over.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for York Central on 14 October 2024 to Question 7797.

Whether independent education settings for people over the age of 19 will be VAT-exempt.

As set out in our manifesto and confirmed in the Chancellor’s July statement, we are ending the VAT break for private schools. The government will introduce 20% VAT on education and boarding services provided for a charge from 1 January 2025. As per the draft VAT legislation that was published in July, the new VAT charge will apply to education and vocational training provided either at sixth forms attached to private schools or standalone private sixth form colleges. However, education and vocational training provided by further education colleges, which are classified as public sector institutions, will not be subject to VAT. The Government will confirm the final policy design at the Budget. Support is available to all educational institutions to help them understand any new tax liabilities that result from these changes; alongside existing support for businesses, bespoke HMRC guidance is available online and this will be complemented with webinars intended to talk schools through the steps they will need to take to comply with any new tax liabilities. The change will not impact pupils with the most acute additional needs, where these can only be met in private schools. Where pupils’ places in private schools are being funded by local authorities (LAs) because their needs can only be met in private school (e.g. in England, where attendance at that private school is required by a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)), LAs will be able to reclaim the VAT so it does not apply to those fees.

Whether independent school fees for people over the age of 18 who are (a) in education and (b) have an Education Health and Care Plan will by exempt from VAT.

As set out in our manifesto and confirmed in the Chancellor’s July statement, we are ending the VAT break for private schools. The government will introduce 20% VAT on education and boarding services provided for a charge from 1 January 2025. As per the draft VAT legislation that was published in July, the new VAT charge will apply to education and vocational training provided either at sixth forms attached to private schools or standalone private sixth form colleges. However, education and vocational training provided by further education colleges, which are classified as public sector institutions, will not be subject to VAT. The Government will confirm the final policy design at the Budget. Support is available to all educational institutions to help them understand any new tax liabilities that result from these changes; alongside existing support for businesses, bespoke HMRC guidance is available online and this will be complemented with webinars intended to talk schools through the steps they will need to take to comply with any new tax liabilities. The change will not impact pupils with the most acute additional needs, where these can only be met in private schools. Where pupils’ places in private schools are being funded by local authorities (LAs) because their needs can only be met in private school (e.g. in England, where attendance at that private school is required by a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)), LAs will be able to reclaim the VAT so it does not apply to those fees.

What assessment the Cabinet Committee on the Future of Work has made of the potential merits of improving employment rights for kinship carers.

The Government greatly values kinship carers who come forward to care for children who cannot live with their parents. The Government has committed in the Plan to Make Work Pay to review the system of parental leave to ensure that it better supports working families. It is a long established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place at Cabinet and its committees is not normally made public.

If he will publish a time series of the capital grants allocated to General Practices for refurbishment and replacement by NHS England under the Primary Care capital grants policy, since 2015.

The information requested is not held centrally. We have commissioned NHS England for this information and will provide an update once we receive the reply.

How much funding has been allocated to the recruitment of 6,500 new teachers.

The within-school and -college factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s outcome is high quality teaching, but there are shortages of qualified teachers across the country. This is why this government will work with the sector to deliver its pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers across schools and colleges over the course of this parliament, to raise standards for children and young people, and deliver its mission to break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage. The department’s measures will include getting more teachers into shortage subjects, supporting areas that face recruitment challenges and tackling retention issues. Further details will be shared in due course.The department has already made good, early progress towards this pledge by ensuring teaching is once again an attractive and respected profession. The department has accepted in full the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation of a 5.5% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools, which is effective from September. The department is also removing the requirement for performance related pay.Alongside this the department is also supporting teachers to improve their workload and wellbeing, including opportunities for greater flexible working. Teachers are now allowed to undertake planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time remotely and the department is also delivering a programme focused on embedding flexible working in schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs). This includes the delivery of supportive webinars and peer support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and MATs. ​Additionally, the department has made available a range of resources to help address teacher workload and wellbeing, including its improve workload and wellbeing for school staff service and the education staff wellbeing charter.The department has also expanded the school teacher recruitment campaign 'Every Lesson Shapes a Life' and the further education teacher recruitment campaign 'Share your Skills'.My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a Budget on 30 October to be followed by a multi-year spending review in the spring of next year. Decisions about future funding will be subject to the outcomes of these fiscal events.The department is dedicated to working in partnership with the sector to re-establish teaching as an attractive profession, and one that existing teachers want to remain in, former teachers want to return to, and new graduates and industry professionals wish to join.

What resources she is allocating to new measures to achieve the recruitment of 6,500 additional teachers.

The within-school and -college factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s outcome is high quality teaching, but there are shortages of qualified teachers across the country. This is why this government will work with the sector to deliver its pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers across schools and colleges over the course of this parliament, to raise standards for children and young people, and deliver its mission to break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage. The department’s measures will include getting more teachers into shortage subjects, supporting areas that face recruitment challenges and tackling retention issues. Further details will be shared in due course.The department has already made good, early progress towards this pledge by ensuring teaching is once again an attractive and respected profession. The department has accepted in full the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation of a 5.5% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools, which is effective from September. The department is also removing the requirement for performance related pay.Alongside this the department is also supporting teachers to improve their workload and wellbeing, including opportunities for greater flexible working. Teachers are now allowed to undertake planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time remotely and the department is also delivering a programme focused on embedding flexible working in schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs). This includes the delivery of supportive webinars and peer support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and MATs. ​Additionally, the department has made available a range of resources to help address teacher workload and wellbeing, including its improve workload and wellbeing for school staff service and the education staff wellbeing charter.The department has also expanded the school teacher recruitment campaign 'Every Lesson Shapes a Life' and the further education teacher recruitment campaign 'Share your Skills'.My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a Budget on 30 October to be followed by a multi-year spending review in the spring of next year. Decisions about future funding will be subject to the outcomes of these fiscal events.The department is dedicated to working in partnership with the sector to re-establish teaching as an attractive profession, and one that existing teachers want to remain in, former teachers want to return to, and new graduates and industry professionals wish to join.

What steps her Department is taking to recruit 6500 teachers; and what her Department's planned timetable is for this recruitment.

The within-school and -college factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s outcome is high quality teaching, but there are shortages of qualified teachers across the country. This is why this government will work with the sector to deliver its pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers across schools and colleges over the course of this parliament, to raise standards for children and young people, and deliver its mission to break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage. The department’s measures will include getting more teachers into shortage subjects, supporting areas that face recruitment challenges and tackling retention issues. Further details will be shared in due course.The department has already made good, early progress towards this pledge by ensuring teaching is once again an attractive and respected profession. The department has accepted in full the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation of a 5.5% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools, which is effective from September. The department is also removing the requirement for performance related pay.Alongside this the department is also supporting teachers to improve their workload and wellbeing, including opportunities for greater flexible working. Teachers are now allowed to undertake planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time remotely and the department is also delivering a programme focused on embedding flexible working in schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs). This includes the delivery of supportive webinars and peer support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and MATs. ​Additionally, the department has made available a range of resources to help address teacher workload and wellbeing, including its improve workload and wellbeing for school staff service and the education staff wellbeing charter.The department has also expanded the school teacher recruitment campaign 'Every Lesson Shapes a Life' and the further education teacher recruitment campaign 'Share your Skills'.My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a Budget on 30 October to be followed by a multi-year spending review in the spring of next year. Decisions about future funding will be subject to the outcomes of these fiscal events.The department is dedicated to working in partnership with the sector to re-establish teaching as an attractive profession, and one that existing teachers want to remain in, former teachers want to return to, and new graduates and industry professionals wish to join.

What were the terms of departure of Lord Wharton from his role as Chairman of Office for Students.

Lord Wharton resigned as chair of the Office for Students (OfS) on 9 July 2024.Lord Wharton’s resignation was accepted by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, who swiftly appointed Sir David Behan as temporary chair of the OfS while the process to appoint a permanent chair is undertaken.The department thanked Lord Wharton for his service as chair of the OfS through a period of change and challenge.