Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC conducted an impact assessment of the time and cost implications for accountancy and tax practices arising from the implementation of multi-factor authentication for agent accounts.

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

HMRC worked very closely with agent representative bodies to understand how best to introduce multi-factor authentication (MFA) to minimise burdens for the agent community. The timing and method of implementation were developed with representative bodies, alongside the support agents needed to prepare for MFA activation.

MFA provides an important additional layer of protection, to help prevent unauthorised access if the agent’s sign-in details are compromised

MFA is already used to protect Government Gateway accounts for individuals and organisations and is a familiar security measure across major digital services, including online banking, email, social media and online shopping

Extending this protection to agent accounts is a proportionate response to evolving online threats and helps to safeguard agents’ accounts and the sensitive information they hold on behalf of their clients.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment HMRC made of the administrative burden on accountancy and tax practices of implementing multi-factor authentication requirements for agent services accounts.

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

HMRC worked very closely with agent representative bodies to understand how best to introduce multi-factor authentication (MFA) to minimise burdens for the agent community. The timing and method of implementation were developed with representative bodies, alongside the support agents needed to prepare for MFA activation.

MFA provides an important additional layer of protection, to help prevent unauthorised access if the agent’s sign-in details are compromised

MFA is already used to protect Government Gateway accounts for individuals and organisations and is a familiar security measure across major digital services, including online banking, email, social media and online shopping

Extending this protection to agent accounts is a proportionate response to evolving online threats and helps to safeguard agents’ accounts and the sensitive information they hold on behalf of their clients.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what specific changes to subcontractor oversight, assurance and audit requirements have been incorporated into the Future Asylum Contract Transformation programme as a result of findings by the Home Affairs Committee, the National Audit Office, and other reviews of the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Future Asylum Contract Transformation (FACT) programme has been designed taking account of lessons identified through scrutiny of the current asylum accommodation arrangements, including findings from the Home Affairs Committee, the National Audit Office and other reviews.

The future contracts will further strengthen subcontractor oversight through additional Supply Chain mapping and visibility obligations, additional reporting and audit rights which cascade into the supply chain. Clearer prime contractor accountability will be achieved by improved management information, performance reporting, and improvements to flow down of protections into sub-contracts.

The programme will also introduce enhanced assurance and audit arrangements, including further independent compliance and performance assurance, to provide greater oversight of service delivery, value for money and contractual compliance across the supply chain. As procurement activity is ongoing, final contractual requirements remain subject to the commercial process.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms within the Future Asylum Contract Transformation programme will enable the Home Office to monitor and intervene in subcontractor performance more effectively than under Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Future Asylum Contract Transformation (FACT) programme has been designed taking account of lessons identified through scrutiny of the current asylum accommodation arrangements, including findings from the Home Affairs Committee, the National Audit Office and other reviews.

The future contracts will further strengthen subcontractor oversight through additional Supply Chain mapping and visibility obligations, additional reporting and audit rights which cascade into the supply chain. Clearer prime contractor accountability will be achieved by improved management information, performance reporting, and improvements to flow down of protections into sub-contracts.

The programme will also introduce enhanced assurance and audit arrangements, including further independent compliance and performance assurance, to provide greater oversight of service delivery, value for money and contractual compliance across the supply chain. As procurement activity is ongoing, final contractual requirements remain subject to the commercial process.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of providing Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS3) accommodation and associated support services in each of the next three financial years.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is committed to funding the provision of temporary accommodation under CAS3, with basic support, for eligible prison leavers in England and Wales who are at risk of homelessness, for up to 84 nights.

The Ministry of Justice is preparing to commence a competitive procurement exercise for CAS3 provision shortly. The estimated cost is commercially sensitive at this point. Contract award information will be published once the procurement process has concluded.

HMPPS continually monitors demand for CAS3 accommodation. In preparation for all early release schemes introduced since July 2024, work has taken place to maximise the use of Community Accommodation Service places. Most eligible prison leavers subject to probation supervision who were at risk of homelessness at the point of release were offered CAS3 support within existing provision. A small number were provided with alternative arrangements until their CAS3 provision became available. Existing CAS3 supply is expected to meet demand arising from early-release schemes, with contingency measures in place should these be required.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many additional Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS3) (a) bed spaces and (b) properties are expected to be required as a result of prisoner early-release schemes introduced since July 2024.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is committed to funding the provision of temporary accommodation under CAS3, with basic support, for eligible prison leavers in England and Wales who are at risk of homelessness, for up to 84 nights.

The Ministry of Justice is preparing to commence a competitive procurement exercise for CAS3 provision shortly. The estimated cost is commercially sensitive at this point. Contract award information will be published once the procurement process has concluded.

HMPPS continually monitors demand for CAS3 accommodation. In preparation for all early release schemes introduced since July 2024, work has taken place to maximise the use of Community Accommodation Service places. Most eligible prison leavers subject to probation supervision who were at risk of homelessness at the point of release were offered CAS3 support within existing provision. A small number were provided with alternative arrangements until their CAS3 provision became available. Existing CAS3 supply is expected to meet demand arising from early-release schemes, with contingency measures in place should these be required.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the additional demand for Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS3) accommodation arising from prisoner early-release schemes introduced since July 2024.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is committed to funding the provision of temporary accommodation under CAS3, with basic support, for eligible prison leavers in England and Wales who are at risk of homelessness, for up to 84 nights.

The Ministry of Justice is preparing to commence a competitive procurement exercise for CAS3 provision shortly. The estimated cost is commercially sensitive at this point. Contract award information will be published once the procurement process has concluded.

HMPPS continually monitors demand for CAS3 accommodation. In preparation for all early release schemes introduced since July 2024, work has taken place to maximise the use of Community Accommodation Service places. Most eligible prison leavers subject to probation supervision who were at risk of homelessness at the point of release were offered CAS3 support within existing provision. A small number were provided with alternative arrangements until their CAS3 provision became available. Existing CAS3 supply is expected to meet demand arising from early-release schemes, with contingency measures in place should these be required.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many civil society organisations that had previously received funding through the Prevent programme were subsequently (a) refused further Prevent funding, (b) excluded from bidding for Prevent funding and (c) had funding withdrawn in each year since 2015.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Preventing Radicalisation Initiative (PRI) is a Home Office-funded initiative that enables local authorities to bid for funding to deliver projects addressing identified radicalisation risks in their areas. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) seeking to deliver PRI-funded activity must apply to join the provider framework and undergo due diligence before they are onboarded, with further checks conducted annually. All providers must also comply with the PRI Code of Conduct.

Based on the records available, funding was withdrawn from one civil society organisation that had previously received funding through the Prevent programme during the period since 2015 and was removed from the Prevent provider framework.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 September 2026 to Question 29246 on Home Office: Freedom of Information, whether eCase can generate (a) reports identifying outstanding referrals to the Communications Directorate and special advisers, (b) the date each referral was made, and (c) whether those reports can distinguish initial referrals from resubmissions.

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

The eCase system can generate reports identifying cases that have been referred to the Communications Directorate and Special Adviser review processes, including the date on which each referral was made. Where a case is returned and subsequently resubmitted through the eCase quality assurance workflow, eCase can distinguish between successive referrals recorded within the system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 September 2026 to Question 29244 on Home Office: Freedom of Information, whether anticipated adverse media coverage or reputational impact forms part of the criteria for referring a proposed Freedom of Information response to the Communications Directorate or special advisers.

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

The potential for information to attract further scrutiny or significant media interest is one of multiple factors which may be taken into account when considering whether a proposed Freedom of Information response should be referred for further review but is categorically not a factor in determining whether and/or what information is disclosed. Communications staff and special advisers may provide advice and input, but decisions on the application of the Freedom of Information Act and the disclosure of information are taken in accordance with the Department’s delegated decision-making arrangements.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 on community, charitable, voluntary, and political events.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 aims to improve organisational preparedness and protective security across the UK, requiring those responsible for certain premises and events take steps to prepare for potential terrorist attacks and help keep people safe in the event of an attack. The requirements are intended to be proportionate and relevant to the premises and events in scope. Qualifying events will fall in scope of the Act where they meet certain criteria, including that they are accessible to the public, it is reasonable to expect 800 or more individuals present at the same time and there are specific entry controls in place, such as checking tickets.

The Government recognises the many community and volunteer-run events held across the UK. The Act aims to improve public protection while avoiding undue burdens on organisations including charities. Any procedures and measures must be appropriate and reasonably practicable, allowing them to be tailored to the size, nature, layout and resources of the premises or event in question, and balancing procedures or measures against the cost, time and difficulty involved in implementing them.

On 15 April, the Home Office published section 27 statutory guidance (The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 - GOV.UK ).The guidance will assist those responsible for premises and events in scope to understand the requirements set out in the legislation and how they may be met in practice. In addition, guidance and updates are published regularly on ProtectUK Martyn's Law | ProtectUK.

The Government is putting a place a robust monitoring and evaluation plan to measure the Act’s effectiveness following implementation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of expanding economic cooperation with Afghanistan on the compatibility with the Government's stated concerns regarding the Taliban's human rights record, particularly in relation to women and girls.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan. The rights and needs of women and girls remain a specific UK priority. We have allocated £105 million per year over 2026-29 to deliver life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable including vital services and livelihood support. We are committed to ensuring that at least 50 per cent of UK aid beneficiaries are women and girls. In 2025/26, UK aid supported at least 5 million Afghans, including around 3 million women and girls. The Taliban's severe restrictions on women and girls continue to undermine fundamental freedoms and present a significant barrier to Afghanistan's long-term development, stability and prosperity. No UK aid is provided directly to the Taliban. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials engage pragmatically with the Taliban to press for the removal of restrictive policies, particularly those affecting women and girls. This does not constitute recognition.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total cost to the public purse of training for asylum seekers funded under the Adult Skills Fund and its predecessor schemes has been since asylum seekers first became eligible for such support.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not held.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many asylum seekers have received publicly funded training under the Adult Skills Fund and its predecessor schemes since asylum seekers first became eligible for such support.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not held.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) headcount and (b) full-time equivalent staffing level is of each directorate and unit within the Homeland Security Group.

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

As of 30^th September 2026, Homeland Security Group’s Headcount is 1150. This equates to 1124.17 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff. Due to the sensitive nature of the work of the Homeland Security Group, it would not be appropriate to publish data beyond this given it is not in the public domain.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students were enrolled on higher education courses delivered at campuses operated by UK Management College in the most recent academic year for which figures are available.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

UK Management College are a delivery provider and have students registered at Canterbury Christ Church University and University of Wolverhampton. The Office for Students publish student numbers by partnership at: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/size-and-shape-of-provision-data-dashboard/get-the-data/.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 3,410 students enrolled on higher education courses delivered by UK Management College.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Afghan nationals or Afghan families are being accommodated at (a) Bassingbourn Barracks and (b) Winchester Army Training Regiment.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Ministry of Defence can confirm that no Afghan nationals or Afghan families are currently being accommodated at either Bassingbourn Barracks or Winchester Army Training Regiment.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she intends to commission an independent (a) audit and (b) investigation into the governance, lending practices and financial controls of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in the context of the findings of the Court of Appeal in Weis v GMCA [2026] EWCA Civ 825.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Greater Manchester Combined Authority is subject to independent external audit as part of the established local audit framework. This audit is independent of government and is not commissioned by the Secretary of State.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority is responsible for maintaining appropriate governance and financial management arrangements.

Ministers take a range of factors into account when considering whether to exercise statutory powers in relation to a local or strategic authority and will only act where necessary to secure compliance with the Best Value Duty and on an objective, evidence lead basis.

Special educational needs and disabilities provision (No. 2)

Found: Warrington South) Lloyd Hatton (Labour; South Dorset) Chris Kane (Labour; Stirling and Strathallan) Rupert Lowe

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