Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help prevent deaths related to non-therapeutic male circumcision.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is currently considering its response to a prevention of future deaths report regarding non-therapeutic male circumcision. The response will set out any steps being taken to help prevent deaths related to non-therapeutic male circumcision. It will be published in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue the Exchequer raised from the introduction of VAT to private school fees between 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Autumn Budget 2024, the revenue from applying the standard rate of VAT to education and boarding services provided by private schools from 1 January 2025 was estimated at £460 million in 2024-25 and £1,505 million in 2025-26, rising to £1,725 million in 2029-30.

In their November 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Office for Budget Responsibility revised the yield from this measure up by an average of £40 million per year, with outturn data providing initial support for the original assumption on pupil movements.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of diplomatic officers posted to Russia who are proficient in Russian to C1 CEFR level or higher.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 November 2025 in response to Question 86285.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of diplomatic officers posted to China who are proficient in Chinese to C1 CEFR level or higher.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 November 2025 in response to Question 86285.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what (a) performance standards and (b) key performance indicators on the timeliness of prisoner arrivals at court are set out within the contract for Prisoner Escort and Custody Services.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS) contracts specify that the contractor shall deliver prisoners to court by the required times to ensure the efficient and effective running of courts without delay. The key performance indicator relating to the timeliness of prisoner arrivals in court is Contract Delivery Indicator 15, at Annex 1 to Schedule 5 of the contract.

The PECS contracts can be found in the Contracts Finder on the GOV.UK website:

Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (Generation 4) - Lot North - Contracts Finder.

Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (Generation 4) - Lot South - Contracts Finder.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is available to local authorities under the licensing regime to restrict the operating hours of retail premises where there is evidence of persistent antisocial behaviour linked to those premises.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Secretary of State issues statutory guidance under section 182 of the Act to support licensing authorities in the discharge of their functions - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/explanatory-memorandum-revised-guidance-issued-under-s-182-of-licensing-act-2003.

This includes guidance on the process to follow if evidence becomes available that a licensed premises is failing to uphold one of four licensing objectives, two of which relate to the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

If concerns are raised about a particular premises, the licensing authority may conduct a review of the premises’ licence and take appropriate action up to and including revoking the licence.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on complications arising out of non-therapeutic circumcision between 2020 and 2025.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Information on complications arising out of non-therapeutic circumcision between 2020 and 2025 is not held in the format requested.

Found: ); Luke Akehurst; Alex Ballinger; Pam Cox; Mr Paul Foster; Mr Mark Francois; Ian Roome; Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

Found: Efford (Chair); Luke Akehurst; Al Carns; Mr Paul Foster; Mike Martin; David Reed; Ian Roome; Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

Found: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat; Wells and Mendip Hills) Sarah Russell (Labour; Congleton) Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

The Justice Committee has issued a call for evidence to inform its scrutiny of the Courts and Tribunals Bill.