The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is a key step towards delivering the government’s Opportunity Mission to break the link between young people’s background and their future success.

The Bill’s impact assessments were submitted to the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) on 5 November 2024, in accordance with the Better Regulation Framework. Collective agreement was provided for measures in the Bill by the Home and Economic Affairs Committee and Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee in advance of the Bill’s introduction, as required.

The department published the Bill’s impact assessments on 30 January 2025, ahead of the RPC’s final opinion being published on 31 January 2025. The RPC gave the Bill’s impact assessments a green-rating, finding them fit for purpose. Ministers were kept updated throughout.

Parliament is not formally notified when legislation proceeds under the urgent measures process. However, paragraphs 6.12 and 6.13 in the Better Regulation Framework outlines the process for urgent measures. Under this process, “it is still expected that the required analysis of impacts is presented to Parliament alongside the legislation or, where that is not possible, as soon as practical thereafter”. In regards to scrutiny by the Regulatory Policy Committee this should also be published to accompany the final Impact Assessment.

The department intends to publish the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for the Children Not in School (CNIS) registers prior to their implementation. We are continuing to engage with the Information Commissioner’s Office on the DPIA to ensure that all data protection risks have been identified and mitigated before any processing of data begins.

​​The department has not issued any guidance, formal or informal, to further education colleges or local authorities encouraging them to restrict direct applications from electively home educated children.

​Home educating parents can supplement their child’s education through attendance at part-time further education courses, as part of securing an efficient, full-time and suitable education for their child. The department supports parents’ right to exercise this choice, and this position will not change with the implementation of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

​Decisions regarding the availability of such courses are at the discretion of each college, who may make decisions based on factors such as available capacity and resources, and may liaise with their local authority as part of this. Funding for part-time courses below level 3 is available to colleges so long as the 14-16 funding arrangements detailed in the funding rates and formula guidance are followed.

​To support implementation of Bill measures, the department will issue statutory guidance to aid local authorities and parents.​

Kaftrio is available to National Health Service patients in England in line with its license through an interim access deal negotiated between NHS England and NHS Improvement and Vertex, the drug manufacturer. This deal will last for four years and means that eligible NHS patients are among the first in Europe to benefit from access to Kaftrio.

As part of this deal, NHS England and NHS Improvement committed to expanding patient access to Kaftrio to cover any future license extensions by the European Medicines Agency.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continues to allocate National Insurance Numbers (NiNo), however, at present this service is currently limited to specific customer groups.

On 17 March, due to COVID-19, the face-to-face interview process for NINo applications was suspended, this was then extended to all employment inspired NINo activity, on 25 March. The suspension of this service enabled DWP to deploy the people engaged in this activity to support the processing of the substantial number of requests received for financial support for citizens impacted by COVID-19.

Applications for those requiring a NINo for the payment of Social Security benefits has continued throughout the pandemic.

On 1 June a limited service was reinstated for NINo applicants, requiring a NINo for employment purposes, who did not need a face-to-face interview to verify their identity.

When applying for a NINo, all applicants are required to have their identity verified. Where applicants have had their identity verified by another UK Government Department, primarily the Home Office as part of their visa application, their application for a NINo can be dealt with by post.

However, for those who have not had their identity verified, primarily UK and European Union/European Economic Area nationals, the process requires them to attend a face-to-face interview with DWP. During the face-to-face interview, the applicant will be asked to present photo identity documents such as a passport or National Identity Card, issued by their country of origin, which is then checked for authenticity using specialist document examination equipment.

DWP is currently working on a digital solution that will reduce the length of the NINo interview and will enable the reinstatement of a shortened face-to-face service. This service is expected to be available by mid-October, but will be to a limited number of applicants (initially 550 a day), as the digital solution is tested with the expectation that it will be available to all applicants later in the year.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

The government does not routinely respond formally to reports produced by All Party Parliamentary Groups, but will consider the findings of the report by the All Party Parliamentary Group for East Asian Business, and take into account its recommendations where appropriate.

My Lords, last week I was delighted to help the Prime Minister lead the largest ever UK business delegation to China. Our bilateral trade and investment relationship with China is improving. Exports to China have almost doubled since 2009 and more Chinese investment has come into the UK in the past 18 months than in the past 30 years combined. However, there is more to be done, especially in focusing on areas where the UK has particular strengths and where these match China’s emerging demands. Many of these strengths—healthcare, education, the creative industries and agri-tech, to name but a few—were showcased last week. Several agreements in these sectors were signed during the visit and these will open further opportunities for UK exporters.