DCMS funds a number of programmes that are stimulating demand for youth workers, including through our National Youth Guarantee, which is backed by over £500 million of investment into youth services.

In addition, the updated statutory guidance for local authorities’ youth provision puts an emphasis on the importance of youth work practice and on employing or encouraging the employment of individuals with youth work skills and qualifications.

To support the youth workforce, DCMS funds the National Youth Agency to set professional standards, qualifications and a curriculum for youth work, including a youth work apprenticeship and free-to-access training. DCMS also funds youth worker bursaries which allows youth workers and volunteers to gain qualifications in youth work. To date, DCMS has funded over 2,000 bursaries and we are providing £1,075,000 for over 700 adults who would otherwise be unable to undertake youth work qualifications due to cost.

The Government has published a consultation on the potential impacts of this court judgment on the PHV sector and its passengers. This consultation explores range of potential options to help mitigate any potential adverse effects that the court judgment could have on PHVOs, drivers, and passengers.

The Government has published a consultation on the potential impacts of this court judgment on the PHV sector and its passengers. This consultation explores range of potential options to help mitigate any potential adverse effects that the court judgment could have on PHVOs, drivers, and passengers.

The SKYNET secure satellite communications programme, which is investing £5 billion over the next decade, provides a significant boost to the industry through direct investment into the sector and use of social value provisions in contracts.

SKYNET provides long-term investment in the UK space sector. This includes promoting the development of new technology and use of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Under SKYNET contracts, the Prime contractor is required to demonstrate social value. This includes measures such as investment into graduate or apprenticeship schemes. This will increasingly be part of our approach to major contracts for the space sector in support of our national policy ambitions under the recently-published Space Industrial Plan.

As we move towards the next generation of SKYNET, the investment in this programme will continue to help develop the thriving UK space sector.

The space sector is important for the UK, adding £7 billion to the economy in 2022. In that year, the sector employed 48,800 people, increasing from 47,000 the previous year. Many of these jobs work on a range of activities, both civil and military, for governments and a range of other customers. Defence accounts for an estimated 10.2% of total space industry income in 2022 and continues to be a significant part of government's support to the sector. The Skynet secure satellite communications programme, where we are investing £5 billion over the next decade, has provided a significant boost to the UK space sector. In the initial stage of the next generation of Skynet alone we have created up to 600 jobs. Defence has also committed £1.4 billion over 10 years to deliver cutting edge space technology, including a multi-satellite system known as ISTARI which is supporting high tech jobs in the UK as a world leader in science. We will continue to support growth in the space sector, including through the upcoming plan for the space sector which will be published in the coming months by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in close consultation with Defence, which will increase growth and resilience for this vital part of the economy.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ819.

The Government is committed to supporting local and regional news outlets as vital pillars of communities and local democracy. They play an essential role in holding power to account, keeping the public informed of local issues and providing reliable, high-quality information.

To date the Government’s support for the sector has included:

• Introducing legislation for a new, pro-competition regime for digital markets, which among many other things will help to rebalance the relationship between news publishers and dominant online platforms;

• The delivery of a £2 million pilot innovation fund - the Future News Fund;

• The zero rating of VAT on e-newspapers;

• The extension of a 2017 business rates relief on local newspaper office space until 2025;

• The publication of the Online Media Literacy Strategy.

The BBC is editorially and operationally independent of the Government, and decisions about how it delivers its services are ultimately a matter for the Corporation. However, the Government has been clear that the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK. These services are a key part of the BBC’s public service remit and an example of how the BBC can use its licence fee funding to provide content that is directly relevant to audiences, particularly in areas that may be underserved by the market.

The Government expects Ofcom as the BBC’s independent regulator to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties.

The Uber Britannia Limited v. Sefton Borough Council High Court case is not a tax case and does not have a direct bearing on the tax treatment of private hire vehicle services. Indeed, the VAT rules, which apply to all businesses, have not changed.

The Government recognises, however, that this ruling may have VAT implications for the private hire vehicle sector and is currently assessing what the impact of these may be, as the Government keeps all taxes under review.

Officials from the Department meet with officials from other countries on a wide range of tobacco control issues, including those related to the Tenth Conference of the Parties of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in November. For example, most recently, Departmental officials have met with counterparts from Australia and Canada.

Officials did not attend the tobacco control and taxation workshop in Panama in January 2023.

Officials did not attend the tobacco control and taxation workshop in Panama in January 2023.

The Government is committed to improving outcomes for all pupils no matter their gender, and raising attainment is a priority. The Government has successfully driven up standards over the past decade. In 2010, only 68% of schools were rated good or outstanding compared to 87% today.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence from the Education Endowment Foundation, Star Assessments and Renaissance Learning shows attainment for all pupils, including boys, has fallen compared to pre-pandemic levels. In response to this, the Department is taking action to support schools, increasing core schools funding in the Autumn Statement 2022. The additional funding will mean that the core schools’ budget is a net £2 billion higher than published at the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 in each of 2023/24 and 2024/25.

The Department continues to deliver the proposals set out in the Schools White Paper, which aim to improve outcomes for all pupils, including boys. This includes providing an excellent teacher for every pupil, securing high standards in curriculum, behaviour and attendance, and providing targeted support for every pupil who needs it.

For teachers, the Department remains committed to delivering £30,000 starting salaries to attract and retain the very best teachers. In addition, the Department will deliver 500,000 teacher training and development opportunities by the end of 2024 and has recently announced a £181 million incentive package for Initial Teacher Training. This package of support will secure more high quality teaching, which is the single most important in school factor on attainment.

The Department continues to promote the use of phonics and supports schools to offer a high quality, knowledge rich curriculum, both of which are critical to ensuring boys are able to achieve well in later life. In addition, the Government has established the Oak National Academy, setting aside up to £43 million over the next three years to support it to provide high quality resources to schools.

The Department continues to support schools through the Pupil Premium, National Tutoring Programme and Recovery Premium. More than £1 billion is available to support tutoring up to 2023/24, with a further £1 billion of Recovery Premium funding in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years.

The Government remains committed to raising overall attainment, and reducing the number of pupils in underperforming schools, by creating a stronger and fairer school system. The Department will continue to support schools, trusts and authorities to deliver excellent outcomes for every pupil.

The Government is committed to improving outcomes for all pupils no matter their gender, and raising attainment is a priority. The Government has successfully driven up standards over the past decade. In 2010, only 68% of schools were rated good or outstanding compared to 87% today.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence from the Education Endowment Foundation, Star Assessments and Renaissance Learning shows attainment for all pupils, including boys, has fallen compared to pre-pandemic levels. In response to this, the Department is taking action to support schools, increasing core schools funding in the Autumn Statement 2022. The additional funding will mean that the core schools’ budget is a net £2 billion higher than published at the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 in each of 2023/24 and 2024/25.

The Department continues to deliver the proposals set out in the Schools White Paper, which aim to improve outcomes for all pupils, including boys. This includes providing an excellent teacher for every pupil, securing high standards in curriculum, behaviour and attendance, and providing targeted support for every pupil who needs it.

For teachers, the Department remains committed to delivering £30,000 starting salaries to attract and retain the very best teachers. In addition, the Department will deliver 500,000 teacher training and development opportunities by the end of 2024 and has recently announced a £181 million incentive package for Initial Teacher Training. This package of support will secure more high quality teaching, which is the single most important in school factor on attainment.

The Department continues to promote the use of phonics and supports schools to offer a high quality, knowledge rich curriculum, both of which are critical to ensuring boys are able to achieve well in later life. In addition, the Government has established the Oak National Academy, setting aside up to £43 million over the next three years to support it to provide high quality resources to schools.

The Department continues to support schools through the Pupil Premium, National Tutoring Programme and Recovery Premium. More than £1 billion is available to support tutoring up to 2023/24, with a further £1 billion of Recovery Premium funding in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years.

The Government remains committed to raising overall attainment, and reducing the number of pupils in underperforming schools, by creating a stronger and fairer school system. The Department will continue to support schools, trusts and authorities to deliver excellent outcomes for every pupil.

The Government is taking a range of actions to improve smokers’ awareness of evidence-based alternatives to smoking. Evidence shows that nicotine replacement therapy along with behavioural support from a stop smoking service is the most effective way for a smoker to quit. The Government will continue to monitor evidence on other reduced risk products and their effectiveness in supporting quit attempts.

The Government encourages adult smokers to switch to vapes as they are substantially less harmful than smoking. They can help adult smokers to quit, particularly when combined with additional support from local stop smoking services. They are an important tool in our ambition to be Smokefree by 2030.

The Government has regularly set out our position on vaping at the Conference of the Parties of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and will do so at the next conference in November 2023. The delegation will not agree to any decisions which would impact on our ability to make vapes available for smokers who wish to quit.

The Department has received an Outline Business Case (OBC) from Derbyshire County Council (DCC) in January 2023 for this scheme. Following an initial review by Department for Transport officials, a number of clarification questions have been raised with DCC. Once the Department receives their response, the assessment of the scheme, as required for all Major Road Network / Large Local Majors programme schemes at this stage of development, will be completed.

HM Revenue and Customs is committed to, wherever possible, identifying taxpayers who need extra help and giving them the support they need.

HMRC can agree an affordable and sustainable instalment plan based on taxpayers’ specific circumstances and for as long as they need. These Time to Pay arrangements are flexible and can be amended if the customer’s circumstances change.

HMRC can also refer taxpayers for free debt advice that is independent from HMRC.

Taxpayers are supported by HMRC’s trained advisers, including dedicated Extra Support Teams. Where appropriate, HMRC will signpost taxpayers to voluntary and community organisations. HMRC remains committed to strengthening the customer support it provides. For example, HMRC's Extra Support Teams and Samaritans are working together to deliver an 18-month project. This includes providing additional guidance to identify taxpayers who might be in vulnerable circumstances, and signposting them, where needed, to a dedicated Samaritans helpline for specialist emotional help they may need.

The Government recognises the important contribution and impact that local TV services make to our broadcasting ecosystem and for those across the UK, particularly in their role disseminating relevant news and engaging with local communities.

In the Broadcasting White Paper (April 2022), we announced our intention to make changes to the local TV licensing regime to enable the renewal of the local TV multiplex licence until 2034 and subject to the same conditions (including revocation power) that apply to the national multiplexes.

The Government also committed to consulting on the detailed arrangements for the renewal of the multiplex licence and conditions for renewal. The Government will publish that consultation in due course. We will consult on options for the renewal or relicensing of individual local TV services at the same time.

On 8 March 2023, the Department announced that up to £57 million has been allocated up to March 2025 for Phase 3 of the Opening School Facilities programme to allow selected schools around England to open their sports facilities in the evenings, at weekends and during the holidays.

The Department has awarded a contract to a consortium led by Active Partnerships, who are identifying schools across England where the funding will have a positive effect on getting the least active pupils and wider community users to participate in more sport.

Active Partnerships will support schools to create new partnerships with sport national governing bodies and local sport providers to broaden the extracurricular opportunities being delivered in the selected schools’ sports facilities.

The Department can confirm that in year one, Active Nottinghamshire have already identified 19 schools in Nottinghamshire to benefit from the programme.