Written questions by Timothy.

Pursuant to her Answer in Business Questions of 17 October 2024, Official Report, column 1000, whether she has asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to come to the House with an update on the Cass review.

As the Hon. Member will know from my correspondence with him, following the Business Question on the 17th October 2024, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the 25th October and asked that the House be provided with an update on the Cass Review. I have raised this matter with the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Secretary of State is now actively considering the timing of this, such that it can be of most use to the House.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 12788 on Menopause: Health Services, when the curriculum was introduced; and whether any additional training is provided to GPs after qualifying.

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is responsible for publishing the postgraduate curriculum for general practitioners (GPs), and ensuring that it remains up to date. The RCGP curriculum was last updated in 2019. It is scheduled to be updated again in August 2025, pending approval by the General Medical Council. GPs are responsible for ensuring that their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date, and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. The RCGP Women’s Heath Library contains educational resources and guidelines on women’s health that are relevant to GPs and other primary healthcare professionals. It brings together national guidance and resources produced and accredited by the RCGP, and resources from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. Further information on the RCGP Women’s Heath Library is available at the following link:https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/index.php?categoryid=57

How many ministerial cars are used by (a) him and (b) Ministers in his Department; and what is the model of those cars.

I refer the hon Member to the answers I gave to the hon Member for Bridlington and The Wolds (Charlie Dewhirst) on 14 October to Question UIN 7001 and on 6 November to Question UIN 11759.

Pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2024 to Question 12771 on Home Office: Hope not Hate, what information her Department holds on (a) the name of, (b) the purpose of and (c) other organisations invited to the stakeholder forums that officials attended with Hope not Hate.

The wider stakeholder forums in question were not organised by the Home Office, and it is not for the department to publish lists of attendees.

What assessment she has made of the potential financial impact of her decision to close the trust capacity and most establishment and growth funds on schools planning to academise.

Across the public sector there have been tough decisions to take on how money is spent to achieve the best value for taxpayers. This government is committed to fixing the foundations of the economy and ensuring public spending is on a sustainable footing. The government recognises the important contribution that high quality trusts have played, and continue to play, in raising standards. The department is focused on ensuring that spending helps to support every child so they can achieve and thrive.The department keeps all of its programmes under review to ensure funding is targeted where it is needed most and on 1 November, we announced that we would be ending the academy conversion grant from 1 January 2025. At the same time, the department also informed trusts that had submitted grant applications for the Trust Capacity Fund, including the Trust Establishment and Growth Fund, that the most recent Window 4 funding round had been cancelled and that there were no plans for future rounds.The academy trust sector is in relatively good financial health. The latest published data shows that 98.2% of academy trusts in 2021/22 had a cumulative surplus or a zero balance. At Budget, we announced an additional £2.3 billion for mainstream schools and young people with high needs for 2025/26, compared to 2024/25. This means that overall core school funding will total almost £63.9 billion next year, compared to £61.6 billion in 2024/25 after technical adjustments.We will continue to support the institutions we fund by building financial management, school business and governance capability, and working with providers facing financial challenge.

What contracts have been agreed with private companies to provide healthcare for asylum seekers and refugees since 5 July 2024.

None.

What assessment she has made of the impact of increasing employer’s National Insurance contributions on charities in (a) the East of England and (b) the rest of the UK.

The Government recognises the important role charities play in our society, and has made it a priority to reset the relationship with civil society by developing a Civil Society Covenant.To repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance.The Government recognises the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of employers with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year. Charities will still be able to claim employer NICs reliefs including those for under 21s and under 25 apprentices, where eligible.More broadly, within the tax system, we provide support to charities through a range of reliefs and exemptions, including reliefs for charitable giving, with more than £6 billion in charitable reliefs provided to charities, CASCs and their donors in 2023 to 2024.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether criminal charges (a) have been made and (b) convictions have been secured against Sri Lankan nationals on Diego Garcia by BIOT authorities.

Where allegations of criminality are made on BIOT, they are investigated by the authorities there and criminal charges brought and prosecuted where appropriate.

With reference to the memo to item 26 on page 118 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, what methodology she used to calculate the public sector compensation amount for the increase to employer National Insurance contributions.

The amount of public sector support was based on an estimate of the proportion of employer NICs receipts paid by public sector organisations, using the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of the public sector boundary. The Treasury routinely uses the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of the public sector boundary, for example in relation to public sector spending, public sector borrowing and public sector debt.

With reference to item 26 on page 118 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, how she defines public sector organisations.

For the purposes of defining support for Employer NICs costs, the Government has used the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of the public sector boundary. This is the usual approach for classification of the public sector boundary, for example in relation to public sector spending, public sector borrowing and public sector debt.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to (a) implement the measures against unfair costs in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and (b) expand protections for homeowners on private estates.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244) which sets out further detail on the steps the government intends to take to implement the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and to progress the wider set of reforms necessary to end the feudal leasehold system for good.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of closing the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme on UK farming, in the context of the continuation of the equivalent scheme in the EU.

The Government appreciates and values the vital work of the horticulture industry and recognises its role in maintaining a secure food supply. As part of our mission-driven Government, and in partnership with the sector, Defra is considering how we can achieve our ambitious, measurable and long-term goals for the sector, including how to recognise the sector’s diversity and specialist needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to (a) continue and (b) replace the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme after 2025.

The Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme is an EU legacy scheme and legislation is in place which will close it on 31 December 2025. The Government has committed to championing British farming, while protecting the environment, and is currently considering the best way to support our farming sectors in the future, including horticulture.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of granting Sri Lankan Tamils on Diego Garcia the right to come to the UK.

No such right exists, and no such right will be considered. On the specific cases of the migrants who have been located on Diego Garcia since 2022, I refer the Hon. Member to PQ 12545.

If he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of Chinese-manufactured wind turbines in UK wind farms on (a) national and (b) energy security.

The Department frequently engages with Cabinet colleagues on matters of national and energy security. The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure extremely seriously with the UK being one of the most reliable and safest energy systems, and one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world. The Government will take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. The Government will co-operate where it can, compete where it needs to, and challenge where it must.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8195 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: HOPE not hate, what meetings (a) special advisors and (b) junior civil servants have had with representatives of Hope Not Hate since the general election.

(a) I refer the honourable member to the answer to Question UIN 8195 on 22 October 2024. (b) I refer the honourable member to the answer to Question UIN 12772 on 15 November 2024.

Media and Sport, if she will have discussions with the Charity Commission on the (a) conflicts of interest and (b) reputational risks of the non-charitable arms of charities engaging in party political campaigning.

Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Commission to discuss matters of mutual interest. Charities are permitted to establish or maintain close connections with non-charitable campaigning organisations to support their charitable purposes, provided this is in the charity’s best interests.The Charity Commission has published guidance for charities with a connection to a non-charity to help charity trustees carefully manage any risks related to conflicts of interest and protect the charity's reputation. Trustees have a legal duty to protect the charity’s assets, reputation, and beneficiaries. Any link with a non-charity should not compromise the charity’s independence or public image. Trustees must also be mindful of the potential risks to the charity’s reputation, particularly regarding political partisanship.If concerns arise that a charity may be acting in a politically partisan manner or outside its charitable objectives, the Charity Commission can investigate and take regulatory action as necessary.

With reference to page 56 of the King’s Speech Background Briefing Notes, published by the Prime Minister's Office on 17 July 2024, whether she plans to include measures on protest at war memorials in the crime and policing bill.

Yes.

If he plans to decolonise the artwork or heritage assets in (a) his department and (b) each of its Arm’s Length Bodies; and what is the policy of NHS England on this issue.

The Department borrows art from the Government Art Collection and does not own artwork. As separate legal entities, the responsibility for creating policy and guidance for artwork sits with each individual Arm’s Length Body, rather than with the Department. NHS England does not have a national policy on artwork and heritage assets.

Communities and Local Government, what her Department's policy is on the renaming of street signs to remove colonial or imperialist references; and what guidance her Department issues local authorities on the rights of local residents to approve or veto such changes.

Changes to street names are a local matter. Section 81 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 replaced the previously inconsistent arrangements for the renaming of streets. It enables local authorities to make changes to street names if they determine they command ‘sufficient local support’ and sets an expectation of local engagement prior to any change. At present the Government does not consider there is a need for further guidance to support Local Authorities in doing so. The Government intends to monitor the operation of these arrangements.