Written questions by Timothy.

What steps she is taking to implement the provisions on foreign interference in the National Security Act 2023 that have yet to be commenced.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 17 December to Question UIN 18703.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 October 2024 to Question 7443 on Trade Unions: Subversion, whether the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme will regulate foreign actors seeking to (a) lobby and (b) influence trade unions.

The scheme’s political influence tier seeks to increase transparency of foreign power influence over the core aspects of the UK’s democracy, including elections, political party proceedings, parliamentarians and decisions of the Government, but is limited in scope to ensure its proportionality.However, where a foreign power is specified under the enhanced tier, those acting at the direction of that foreign power to carry out a broad range of activities will be required to register. This could include activities involving lobbying of, or influence over, trade unions.

What industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

The Ministry of Defence and its Arms Length Bodies have no ongoing industrial disputes with Trades Unions.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 2316 on Equality, whether the socio-economic duty will apply to (a) Police and Crime Commissioners and (b) Police Constables.

The Government is committed to commencing the socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010. The duty will require specified public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to consider actively how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage. Public bodies specified by the duty include police and crime commissioners established for an area in England. We will consider whether the list of public authorities to which the duty will apply requires updating as part of our research programme and evidence gathering.

Food and Rural Affairs, what industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

There are no current industrial disputes ongoing within Defra or it’s arm’s length bodies.

What industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

There are currently no ongoing disputes within DWP or arm’s length bodies connected to the Department.

What industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

There are no ongoing industrial disputes in my Department and the Wales Office has no arm’s length bodies.

Whether her Department has issued guidance to political parties on the United States of America’s Foreign Agents Registration Scheme for campaigning overseas.

Guidance on other country’s regulations is a matter for the country concerned. Information on the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act can be found on the U.S. Department of Justice website.

What industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice, who remain the employers.There are currently no ongoing industrial disputes with the Ministry of Justice or the Scottish Government employees.

What industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

No recognised trade union currently holds a mandate to call industrial action in the Department for Transport or its Executive Agencies.Members of PCS and Prospect unions in the Civil Aviation Authority have voted to take industrial action in a dispute over pay. The CAA is a statutory corporation and a public corporation of the Department for Transport. The number of staff potentially involved in the dispute is approximately 1,600, although it is estimated that 22% of staff are members of these unions.PCS has called for a two-day strike commencing on 16 January followed by an overtime ban and work to rule.Prospect has called for an overtime ban and work to rule commencing on 20 January.Ministers look forward to a speedy resolution of this dispute and note that discussions between CAA management and unions are continuing. The pay of employees of the CAA is wholly a matter for the organisation itself.

What guidance his Department issues to schools and local education authorities on the teaching around the British Empire in the National Curriculum.

The national curriculum for history for key stages 1 to 3 includes references to the British Empire and gives teachers and schools the flexibility to use specific examples to teach pupils about the history of Britain and the wider world.The British Empire could be taught across the three key stages. At key stage 1, pupils should be taught about changes within living memory, events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally, and the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements. At key stage 2, when teaching about the concept of empire and teaching about other empires, further foundations can be developed for the teaching of the British Empire.Teaching about the British Empire can take place across the time periods and themes at key stage 3. Within the statutory themes of ‘the development of Church, state and society in Britain 1509-1745’, ‘ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901’, ‘challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day’, there are non-statutory examples of what children might be taught about the British Empire. The British Empire could also be taught within the requirement for the study of an aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066 and within local history across the three key stages.As part of the flexibility all schools have in teaching the national curriculum, schools and teachers are able to determine which examples, topics and resources to use to stimulate and challenge pupils and reflect key points in history.The department announced a Curriculum and Assessment Review last year. The review’s interim report is due to be published in early 2025, with a final report later in the year.

Media and Sport, what industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

There are currently no ongoing industrial disputes within DCMS. Our arm’s length bodies are independent employers and are responsible for their own industrial relations.

What industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

There are no ongoing industrial disputes within the Department or our arm's length bodies connected to the Department.

What flags she plans to fly outside her Department other than the Union flag in the next 12 months; and on which days each flag will be flown.

Current Home Office ministers have not been consulted on this issue since coming to office, but prompted by the Hon Member’s question, we have advised that there should be no change from the arrangements in place under the previous government, whatever they may have been.

What industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

There are no ongoing industrial disputes within the Attorney General’s Office, Government Legal Department, HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, Serious Fraud Office, or Crown Prosecution Service.

Innovation and Technology, what industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) their Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to their Department; how many (i) staff and (ii) contractors are involved in each dispute; what the form of industrial action is in each dispute; which recognised trade union is involved in each dispute; what the substantive matter is that is being disputed in each case; and what steps he plans to take to end each dispute.

There is currently no industrial dispute within DSIT or any of its Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs). No Trade Union has a current mandate for industrial action in DSIT or its ALBs.There are ongoing disputes between PCS Union and both G4S Security Company (G4S) and International Services System - Facilities Management Services (ISS). G4S and ISS provide facilities management services in DSIT offices and those of other Departments under a contract managed by Government Property Agency. Those disputes are a matter for the union and employers concerned.

Whether he plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) her Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies.

There has been no change in the Scotland Office’s management of artwork or heritage assets since the previous administration. The Scotland Office is pleased to showcase the best of Scottish art in partnership with the Fleming Collection and the Government Art Collection. Last year, the Government also announced that works of art by five contemporary artists from across Scotland would be displayed in embassies and government buildings around the world as part of a Government Art Collection project; I am delighted to see these contemporary artists having their work promoted by the UK Government.

Whether he plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies.

The Department is a customer of the Government Property Agency (GPA) in its office locations. Artwork that is displayed in these locations is owned by Government Art Collection which is part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. GPA is responsible for any heritage assets. As separate entities, arm’s-length body are responsible for artwork and heritage items that sit within their office locations, rather than with the Department.

If she will take steps with City of London Police to improve (a) the (i) support services and (ii) reporting tools available to victims of fraud and (b) the quality of intelligence on fraud provided to police forces.

We are replacing the current Action Fraud service with a new improved service. The new service will have an upgraded call centre and a new user-friendly, accessible website for reporting fraud, offering simpler pathways to support and guidance. The service will also offer a new data and intelligence platform to speed up the analysis and dissemination of reports to police forces for investigation.Victims will also get better updates on the progress of their report and there will be faster identification of the most vulnerable victims to receive enhanced support, including through the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU).The aim of NECVCU is for victims to feel safe and more confident following contact, whilst assisting them to cope and recover from the crime and significantly reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation. Since its inception in 2018, NECVCU has supported 440,994 victims of fraud and since January 2021, NECVCU has also helped victims recover £3,685,201.

Whether she plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) her Department, (ii) the (A) courts and (B) prison estates and (iii) each of her Department's arm's length bodies.

There has been no change in the Ministry of Justice’s management of artwork or heritage assets across our estate since the previous administration.As separate entities, the responsibility for creating policy and guidance for artwork sits with each individual Arm’s Length Body, rather than with the Department.