Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve (a) numeracy skills and (b) AI skills.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

School-aged pupils should learn foundational knowledge that underpins artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and numeracy through computing and mathematics curricula. Work is underway on a new curriculum and assessment system that is ambitious for every child, rich in knowledge and strong on skills. The new curriculum will be subject to consultation.

The department also funds direct support to teachers. Our 40 Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence maths hubs deliver free, local support to teachers from over half of primary and secondary schools in England every year, covering from reception up to GCSE in post-16 institutions. To support the teaching of AI, the National Centre for Computing Education, funded by the department, delivers a range of free and flexible online courses to equip teachers with the knowledge to embed age-appropriate teaching of AI into computing lessons.

In addition, post-16 institutions are required to support students aged 16 to 19 who have not yet achieved a GCSE mathematics grade 4 to make progress towards Level 2.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which industry experts have been consulted and which materials have been tested in considering replacing the bearskin King's Guard caps with a faux-fur alternative.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence remains committed to using human made materials to replace natural fur where they provide a suitable, affordable and sustainable alternative. The Department continues to welcome submissions of test results, from a testing house accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, on synthetic alternatives that meet our criteria.

There are five initial testing criteria; water absorption, water penetration, appearance, drying rate and compression.

However, the Department has not yet identified a synthetic alternative that meets the standards required to provide an effective replacement for bearskin ceremonial caps.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has put a contract out to tender for potential suppliers of faux-fur King's Guard caps.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence remains committed to using human made materials to replace natural fur where they provide a suitable, affordable and sustainable alternative. The Department continues to welcome submissions of test results, from a testing house accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, on synthetic alternatives that meet our criteria.

There are five initial testing criteria; water absorption, water penetration, appearance, drying rate and compression.

However, the Department has not yet identified a synthetic alternative that meets the standards required to provide an effective replacement for bearskin ceremonial caps.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria he is using to measure the suitability of faux-fur alternatives to bearskin King's Guards caps.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence remains committed to using human made materials to replace natural fur where they provide a suitable, affordable and sustainable alternative. The Department continues to welcome submissions of test results, from a testing house accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, on synthetic alternatives that meet our criteria.

There are five initial testing criteria; water absorption, water penetration, appearance, drying rate and compression.

However, the Department has not yet identified a synthetic alternative that meets the standards required to provide an effective replacement for bearskin ceremonial caps.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to introduce faux-fur King's Guard caps.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence remains committed to using human made materials to replace natural fur where they provide a suitable, affordable and sustainable alternative. The Department continues to welcome submissions of test results, from a testing house accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, on synthetic alternatives that meet our criteria.

There are five initial testing criteria; water absorption, water penetration, appearance, drying rate and compression.

However, the Department has not yet identified a synthetic alternative that meets the standards required to provide an effective replacement for bearskin ceremonial caps.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people affected by the Equitable Life scandal who are yet to be traced.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

In 2010 the coalition government chose to allocate up to £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Before it ceased operations in 2016, the Scheme had issued £1.12 billion in tax-free payments to nearly 933,000 policyholders.

As the Scheme has been fully wound down and closed since 2016, it is no longer possible to make a claim. The only remaining part of the Payment Scheme in operation is the annual payments made to eligible With-Profit-Annuitants.

There are no plans to reopen any decisions relating to the Payment Scheme or review the £1.5 billion funding allocation previously made to it. Further guidance on the status of the Payment Scheme after closure is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equitable-life-payment-scheme#closure-of-the-scheme.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to distribute the remainder of the funding allocation to those affected by the Equitable Life scandal.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

In 2010 the coalition government chose to allocate up to £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Before it ceased operations in 2016, the Scheme had issued £1.12 billion in tax-free payments to nearly 933,000 policyholders.

As the Scheme has been fully wound down and closed since 2016, it is no longer possible to make a claim. The only remaining part of the Payment Scheme in operation is the annual payments made to eligible With-Profit-Annuitants.

There are no plans to reopen any decisions relating to the Payment Scheme or review the £1.5 billion funding allocation previously made to it. Further guidance on the status of the Payment Scheme after closure is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equitable-life-payment-scheme#closure-of-the-scheme.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking steps to help protect gas engineers from customers who have had a past of being abusive to engineers.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to manage the risk to employees from work-related violence, which includes:

• verbal abuse,
• threats and intimidation,
• physical assault,
• abuse by customers or members of the public.

The duty extends to employees visiting customers' homes, including gas engineers. Employers are expected to assess and manage those risks. To assist employers, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance on how to assess the risks and put the right controls in place to protect workers. There is specific guidance on violence and aggression at work: Violence and aggression at work - HSE and for lone workers: Lone working: Protect those working alone - HSE

If an employee has experienced violence in connection with a work activity, HSE encourages them to report this to their employer. Employers, certain self-employed people and those in control of work premises must report certain workplace injuries, dangerous occurrences and occupational diseases to HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Workers may also want to report instances of violence or intimidation to the police.

Found: SOON-TO-BE PUBLISHED STUDIES Dr Han Boter Professor Tom Craig Dr Mike Crawford Dr Kimberlie Dean Chris Evans