Written questions by Paul.

What steps her Department has taken to ensure ongoing independent expert scrutiny of police conduct and the full transparent investigation of this conduct where required.

This Government is currently reforming the statutory systems for investigating allegations of police misconduct (whether these are identified internally or via public complaints).The most serious and sensitive matters including deaths and serious injuries and allegations of serious corruption must be referred immediately to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for assessment and, where IOPC deems it necessary, immediate, independent investigation.The IOPC publishes summaries and reports on its work, wherever it is possible to do so and regularly publishes press releases providing updates on high profile cases. We introduced reforms to these systems via the Policing and Crime Bill and announced further steps in Chapter 4 of the Police Reform White Paper published on 26 January 2026, including working with the IOPC to increase transparency further.

Innovation and Technology, on what date the cross-departmental team established to address the findings of Baroness Bertin’s Independent Pornography Review formally commenced its work; and when is that team expected to provide its findings and recommendations.

The ‘Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’ committed to creating a joint team to address the issues in Baroness Bertin’s Review. The team is now established and is formed by the Home Office, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Justice, and Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The team is examining the evidence to inform the government’s approach to pornography policy carefully.

Innovation and Technology, if she will make it her policy that types of pornographic content that it would be illegal to distribute offline, such as scenes depicting incest and scenes of simulated child abuse, are subject to equivalent controls online.

The Online Safety Act (OSA) already places robust duties on online platforms to tackle illegal and harmful pornographic content. Platforms are required to prevent users from encountering such content, and services that host or allow access to pornography must have effective measures, such as age verification, to protect children. In 2025, the government announced that strangulation will be made a priority offence under the OSA, requiring platforms to take swift action against this content.Following the Independent Pornography Review, a cross-government joint team has been established to inform the government’s approach to pornography policy.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the current regulatory framework for Research Ethics Committees (RECs), including the Governance Arrangements for Research Ethics Committees, in providing adequate guidance for RECs considering research proposals pertaining to gender and sex.

No specific assessment has been made by the Department. The Health Research Authority (HRA) and the devolved administrations provide a Research Ethics Service so that research proposals relating to their areas of responsibility can be reviewed by a Research Ethics Committee (REC) for all kinds of health and social care research proposals within the scope of the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care research, including those pertaining to gender and sex.A REC is a group of people appointed to review research proposals to assess formally if the research is ethical. This means the research must conform to recognised ethical standards. RECs protect the rights, safety, dignity and wellbeing of research participants and the Governance Arrangements for Research Ethics Committees, a United Kingdom wide policy, describes what is expected from RECs when reviewing research proposals.Each REC is required to adopt the UK Standard Operating Procedures approved by, or on behalf of, its appointing authority, and each REC is audited against these standards on a rolling basis. RECs reviewing Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products must be accredited by the UK Ethics Committee Authority before they can review applications to ensure committees comply with legislation and uphold standards.The HRA has a duty to provide an efficient and robust research ethics review service to protect participants.

Whether he has had discussions with the House Authorities on guidance issued on parliamentary engagement with organisations whom the Government have banned engagement with.

No such conversations have taken place between myself and the House Authorities.

Whether his Department has sought to recruit a senior official to lead on trans equality since January 2026.

Based on a ‘senior official’ being a Senior Civil Servant (SCS), there have been no SCS recruitment campaigns to lead on trans equality.

How many staff members are currently working on policy connected to trans equality and related matters.

Regarding Cabinet Office roles working on trans equality and ‘related policy matters’, the numbers concerned would relate to five individuals or fewer. We therefore cannot provide details in such cases as the individuals concerned could be identifiable. This is standard statistical reporting. This includes the Office for Equality and Opportunity.

What has been the cost to the public purse of staff working in his Department on trans equality and related policy matters since 16 April 2025.

Regarding Cabinet Office roles working on trans equality and ‘related policy matters’, the numbers concerned would relate to five individuals or fewer. We therefore cannot provide details in such cases as the individuals concerned could be identifiable. This is standard statistical reporting. This includes the Office for Equality and Opportunity.

What steps his Department has taken to ensure that Civil Service workplace policies fully comply with the Equality Act 2010 as interpreted in the ruling of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers since 16 April 2025.

All Civil Service workplace policies are developed, reviewed and appropriately updated to ensure that they follow the law, including the Equality Act 2010. Departments are taking specialist legal advice where necessary and ensuring that any revisions to existing policies are made in accordance with legal advice or recent rulings.

What consideration his Department has given to the potential merits of allowing inquests into the death of a child by suicide to be conducted in private.

As I confirmed in my response the Honourable Member’s question on this issue on 23 July 2025 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament), the Government is committed to putting the bereaved at the heart of the inquest process, and we are particularly conscious of the importance of this for those who have suffered the unimaginable distress of losing a child through suicide. However, in line with the principle of open justice - which applies in all courts including the coroner’s court - it is important that justice is administered in public, that everything said in court is reportable, and that any departure from this approach is closely regulated. Accordingly, there are strict limitations on the coroner’s powers to sit in private, to withhold the names of witnesses or Interested Persons, or to prevent the reporting of matters heard in court. In particular, the public and media may only be excluded from an inquest hearing in the interests of national security. Chapter 8 of the Chief Coroner’s Guidance for Coroners on the Bench (Chapter 8: Open Justice - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary) provides guidance for coroners on the principle of open justice and the application of any statutory powers to depart from it.

How many full-time equivalent staff are currently assigned primarily to policy work relating to transgender matters within the Office for Equality and Opportunity.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity has responsibility for a range of equalities matters. The specific number of staff allocated to work on any particular issue is based on resource need at any one time.

How much she has spent on legal advice pertaining to the revised Code of practice for services, public functions and associations.

The EHRC revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following its consultation after the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland, and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities on 4 September 2025.The Government is considering the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Secretary of State will lay it before Parliament over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.

With reference to paragraph 15.27 of the Valuation Office Agency's technical manual, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of widening the provision to allow landlords to serve blight notices for their properties.

Section 168 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 legislates how Blight Notices can be used. This legislation and any revisions to it fall within the remit of MHCLG.

What external legal advice has she sought on the revised Code of practice for services, public functions and associations, submitted to her for approval on 5 September 2025.

The EHRC revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following its consultation after the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland, and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities on 4 September 2025.The Government is considering the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Secretary of State will lay it before Parliament over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.

If she will list the meetings between his Department, including the Office for Equality and Opportunity, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission on the implications of the For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers Supreme Court ruling since 16 April 2025.

The EHRC revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following its consultation after the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland, and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities on 4 September 2025.The Government is considering the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Secretary of State will lay it before Parliament over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.

Whether her Department has submitted any proposed amendments to the revised Code of practice for services, public functions and associations to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The EHRC revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following its consultation after the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland, and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities on 4 September 2025.The Government is considering the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Secretary of State will lay it before Parliament over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.

What discussions her Department has had with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on the revised Code of practice for services, public functions and associations, submitted to the Minister for Women and Equalities for approval on 5 September 2025.

The EHRC revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following its consultation after the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland, and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities on 4 September 2025.The Government is considering the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Secretary of State will lay it before Parliament over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.

How many biologically male prisoners were held in E Wing of HMP Downview as at 1st February 2026.

As of 1 February 2026, seven biologically male prisoners were being held on E Wing.

Which external organisations or groups her Department has engaged or consulted with on the draft Code of Practice for services, public functions, and associations.

The EHRC revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following its consultation after the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland, and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities on 4 September 2025.The Government is considering the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Secretary of State will lay it before Parliament over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.

How much how her Department spent on external legal advice primarily relating to transgender equality policy since 16 April 2025.

Expenditure on external legal advice is recorded by the Department in line with standard accounting practices. Since 16 April 2025, the Office for Equality and Opportunity has incurred costs for legal advice on a range of policy matters, including the Equality Act 2010.