Asked by: Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many passports and driving licences have been removed from paying parents as a result of them not paying their child maintenance.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions uses sanctions such as sending Paying Parents to prison, disqualifying them from holding, or obtaining a passport or driving licence as a last resort and only used when every other method of recovering unpaid child maintenance has been tried. The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) on behalf of the Department only pursues these sanctions when they believe the Paying Parent can pay but is refusing to do so. In these circumstances enforcement powers will have a deterrent effect on Paying Parents.
From the latest Child Maintenance Service official statistics, table 6.2, in the National tables, provides the outcome information where the CMS applied to courts to sanction Paying Parents for non-compliance. The latest statistics show there were three immediate passport confiscations and seven immediate driving disqualifications in Great Britain between July 2019 and March 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of increased employer National Insurance contributions on employment opportunities for young people in the hospitality sector, and of the consequences for the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
A detailed assessment of the policy has been published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact Note. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) also published the Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO), which sets out a detailed forecast of the economy and public finances. With all policies considered, the OBR's March 2025 EFO forecasts the employment level to increase from 33.6 million in 2024 to 34.8 million in 2029.
This Government is committed to providing young people with the best start to their working lives. The Government will deliver a Youth Guarantee so that all 18 to 21-year-olds in England have access to education, training or help to find a job or an apprenticeship. To support this, we are funding eight trailblazers across England to test how different elements of the Guarantee can be brought together into a coherent offer for young people. The Government is also expanding Sector-based Work Academy Programmes to provide 100,000 places in 2025/26, providing a work placement, training and a guaranteed interview that can kickstart a new career and support young people into work.
Asked by: Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of rising labour costs on businesses operating in the hospitality and retail sectors, and what steps they are taking to ensure employment remains viable in those sectors.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts. A full Impact Assessment on NMW was published and received a Green ‘fit for purpose’ from the Regulatory Policy Committee on Tuesday 4 February 2025.
The Government will protect the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, more than half of employers see no change or gain overall from this package and employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage and pay no employer NICs.
The Hospitality Sector Council and the Retail Sector Council continue to consider key issues and opportunities, including employment and how to encourage growth across both sectors.
Asked by: Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of people who have entered the Universal Credit system as a consequence of increased employer labour costs, including higher employer National Insurance contributions, particularly in low-margin sectors.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No such assessment has been made.
Data on the Universal Credit caseload, including up-to-date trends information, is available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
Guidance for users is available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html
Asked by: Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement welfare strategies specifically for those areas excluded from highly clustered, high-productivity economic sectors.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Our Get Britain Working White Paper set out our cross-Government plan to get people into work and on in work.
As part of that, we are planning to offer greater employment support in every part of the country to those who need it to get into work and fulfil their potential.
This Government is also taking action to deliver strong, secure, and sustainable economic growth to boost living standards for working people in every part of the UK. Central to this will be the Industrial Strategy, which will help us seize the most significant opportunities and create the most favourable conditions for growth and investment in key UK sectors – spread throughout the country. Through our 643 Jobcentres and unique high street presence, DWP will help growth driving sectors recruit the people they need to thrive.
Government has held several skills summits with industry, including on construction, clean energy and water, and has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with DEFRA to improve JCP customer access to a wider pool of vacancies, with others to follow with relevant sectors.
Asked by: Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many men aged 16 to 24 years old were employed in the agriculture sector in April.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the acting National Statistician of the UK Statistics Authority.
Emma Rourke | Acting National Statistician
The Baroness Stedman-Scott OBE
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
12 May 2025
Dear Lady Stedman-Scott,
As Acting National Statistician, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking how many men aged 16 to 24 years old were employed in the agriculture sector in April (HL6966).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects information on the labour market status of individuals through the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is a survey of people resident in households in the UK. The responses allow us to estimate how many people are in employment, as well as information on their age and sex. In addition, working respondents report the industry they believe best reflects their workplace. These responses are classified using the Standard Industrial Classification 2007 (SIC07).
Unfortunately, estimates for April 2025 will not be available until 10 June 2025. In the period December 2024 to February 2025, the latest LFS data available, the number of men aged 16 to 24 years who were working in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry sector was 15,000. Please note that this estimate is based on a small sample size. This may result in less precise estimates, which should be used with caution.
The ongoing challenges with response rates, response levels and weighting approach mean that labour market statistics based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are subject to increased volatility and are considered ’official statistics in development’ until further review.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Rourke
Asked by: Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16 on 16 April, how they will ensure that police policies are updated, particularly with regard to (1) reporting of male crime statistics, and (2) the right of women to be dealt with by female police officers, particularly in the event of a strip search.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are currently considering the implications of the Supreme Court ruling for the Home Office and policing.
Asked by: Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government how they will ensure that all public services are compliant with the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16 on 16 April.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) regulates equality law across England, Wales and Scotland and human rights across England & Wales.
The EHRC is independent of the government and makes its own enforcement and regulation decisions, including any inquiries and investigations it decides to conduct. The EHRC are currently updating their Code of Practice to reflect the ruling.
Asked by: Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16 on 16 April, when the Equality and Human Rights Commission will publish an updated statutory code of practice.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent of government. The matter of updating their guidance is a decision for EHRC. This question has been passed to the EHRC who will be providing a written response to Baroness Stedman-Scott.
Asked by: Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many men aged 16 to 24 years old were employed in the manufacturing sector in April.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician
The Baroness Stedman-Scott OBE
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
2 May 2025
Dear Lady Stedman-Scott,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many men aged 16 to 24 years old were employed in the construction sector in April (HL6964), and how many men aged 16 to 24 years old were employed in the manufacturing sector in April (HL6965).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects information on the labour market status of individuals through the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is a survey of people resident in households in the UK. The responses allow us to estimate how many people are in employment, as well as information on their age and sex. In addition, working respondents report the industry they believe best reflects their workplace. These responses are classified using the Standard Industrial Classification 2007 (SIC07).
Unfortunately, estimates for April 2025 will not be available until 10 June 2025. In the period December 2024 to February 2025, the latest LFS data available, the number of men aged 16 to 24 years who were working in the construction sector was 196,000, while the number of men aged 16 to 24 years who were working in the manufacturing sector was 155,000.
The ongoing challenges with response rates, response levels and weighting approach mean that labour market statistics based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are subject to increased volatility and are considered ’official statistics in development’ until further review.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond