Written questions by Rosindell.

What steps she has taken to improve the safety of students with serious allergies in English educational institutions.

Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. Schools should ensure they are aware of any pupils with medical conditions and have policies and processes in place to ensure these can be well managed. Policies should set out how staff will be supported in carrying out their role to support pupils, including how training needs are assessed and how training is commissioned and provided. Any member of school staff providing support to a pupil with medical needs should have received suitable training.Schools can purchase spare adrenaline auto-injectors from a pharmacy without a prescription and for use in an emergency situation.The department intends to consult on updated statutory guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions later this year. The full guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3.

What steps he has taken to improve the domestic (a) development, (b) production and (c) delivery of autonomous systems for service in the Royal Air Force.

The Strategic Defence Review recognised that the RAF must stay at the leading edge of Combat Air's evolution, through the transition from exclusively crewed Combat Air platforms to a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with a mix of crewed, uncrewed, and increasingly autonomous platforms, integrated into the UK's digital targeting web.Both Protector and Stormshroud, the RAF’s first ACP, entered service this year, the latter being an excellent example of how the RAF is taking modernising its approach to autonomous systems, by combining expertise of the RAF, the Governments Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and UK industry.The RAF are committed to the exploitation of autonomy and other complimentary technologies in a range of systems, delivering effects across the Air domain. The pace of adoption will be facilitated by the Defence Investment Plan, due for publication later this year.

If her Department will take steps to provide (a) funding and (b) other support to help non-accredited aesthetic training academies to gain OFQUAL recognised status.

The department has no role in funding or supporting aesthetic training academies to gain Ofqual recognised status. Instead, this is a matter for training academies and awarding organisations. Ofqual, which is the independent regulator of qualifications in England, publishes guidance on how awarding organisations can apply for recognition for their qualifications, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-have-your-qualifications-regulated.

What steps she has taken to ensure that educational institutions in England have adequate policies to ensure the safety of staff and students during heatwaves.

The responsible body, whether a local authority, academy trust, or voluntary-aided body, must ensure the health, safety, and welfare of pupils and staff, including maintaining safe internal environments during hot weather.The department’s Education Hub offers guidance on managing heatwaves. Additional advice on emergency planning, including extreme heat, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings.The UK Health Security Agency provides resources for educators on protecting children in hot weather:Guidance for teachers and early years settings.General hot weather advice.The department also allocates annual capital funding to improve school conditions and sustainability.

What statutory instruments have been introduced since May 2025 to implement dynamic alignment provisions under the Windsor Framework.

All Statutory Instruments are a matter of public record and are available on the Government’s ‘legislation.gov.uk’ website, or on ‘statutoryinstruments.parliament.uk’.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to review the awarding of honours and decorations within the British Overseas Territories include medals available within the UK but not the British Overseas Territories.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is actively reviewing the medals available in the Overseas Territories, compared to those available in the UK.

For what reason blue carbon habitats are not currently included in environmental impact assessments for offshore developments.

Where appropriate, the impacts on the natural environment including coastal zones and the marine environment, are considered in environmental impact assessments for offshore developments as required under the relevant regulations.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to include (a) blue carbon habitats and (b) seabed sediments as designated features within existing Marine Protected Areas as part of the upcoming Marine Protected Area network review.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) protect a variety of habitats as designated features, including those that play a role in carbon capture and storage, such as maerl beds, saltmarsh and seagrass meadows. The MPA network review aims to identify approaches to improve climate change resilience across designated sites in English seas, including those protecting carbon-storing seabed sediments (e.g. sublittoral mud in North East of Farnes Deep Marine Conservation Zone).

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve navigation assets along the non-tidal Thames.

The Environment Agency (EA) maintains its non-tidal Thames Navigation assets through the combination of a capital investment programme to deliver major refurbishment projects, and a revenue maintenance programme which sustains the safe day-day operations of these assets. During 2025/26 the EA are investing £16.3 million on the highest priority lock refurbishment projects to benefit their Navigation customers and will support the vital retention of the River Thames water resource through the refurbishment of specific weirs. The EA’s future investment programme has identified approximately £18 million of investment need over the next 5 years to progress more lock and weir refurbishments. This programme also focuses on the operational reliability of the Navigation assets and is planning to upgrade 22 lock operation systems, which are the main source of temporary lock breakdowns. The EA will bid for the identified funding as part of the government’s spending review process.

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of dynamic alignment with EU law under the 2025 UK-EU Common Understanding on the constitution.

As part of the deal we secured at the first UK-EU summit in May, we agreed to dynamically align with the EU in specific areas where it makes sense, and where there is a benefit to the UK economy. Exporters have been clear that this will reduce the regulatory burden. This deal includes an SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) agreement, which will make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing the red tape, and linking our respective Emissions Trading Systems. Together these measures are set to add nearly £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040.The Common Understanding is clear that where the UK Government decides to align with EU rules as part of a new agreement this will give due regard to the UK’s constitutional and Parliamentary procedures. The UK will be involved, as a sovereign nation outside of the European Union, at an early stage and contribute to the decision-shaping process of European Union legal acts.The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) will have a limited role in assisting an independent arbitration tribunal responsible for deciding a dispute between the UK and the EU. The CJEU does not rule on the substantive outcome of the dispute - that is a matter for the independent arbitration panel.

What steps she is taking to ensure that dynamic alignment with EU law does not undermine UK judicial independence.

As outlined in the Common Understanding from the UK-EU Summit, the UK will have a joint role in shaping any new rules governing our relationship with the EU. In specific areas this will mean aligning our shared obligations to facilitate better trade and increased security. However, no rules will apply in the UK without Parliament’s agreement and any disputes will be done by international arbitration. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) will only have a role with regards the interpretation of EU law, in the same way that UK judges remain the independent interpreters of UK law. The Government remains unequivocally committed to the independence of the judiciary. We will continually work to ensure that any cooperation with the EU, including alignment where appropriate, respects the UK’s constitutional framework and preserves the independence of our judiciary.

Food and Rural Affairs, what statutory instruments will be required to align UK Sanitary and Phytosanitary standards with those of the EU.

We have agreed a commitment for the UK to dynamically align with the EU on specific SPS rules. Operating under the same regulatory framework will facilitate the removal of unnecessary barriers to trade. The UK and the EU are partners with similarly high standards for agrifood products. The exact mechanism for agreeing and implementing new EU rules is subject to further negotiations, but there will be a role for Parliament. We look forward to bringing forward legislation to provide Parliament with an important opportunity to scrutinise new arrangements and to have its say.

Whether he plans to attend parades in Northern Ireland on 12 July 2026.

The 12th of July is a day of cultural and historical significance to many in Northern Ireland. We do not share advance details of Northern Ireland Office Ministers’ movements.

What steps he has taken to improve state funded maternity care.

While there are outstanding examples of care in NHS maternity services, we know this is not the experience that all women have, and there are significant issues that need addressing.My Rt. Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, recently announced an independent Investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services to understand the systemic issues behind why so many women, babies and families experience unacceptable care. This will produce, by December 2025, one clear set of national recommendations to achieve high quality, safe care across maternity and neonatal services.The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care also announced the establishment of a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce that will use the recommendations from the Investigation to develop a national plan, with families and partners, to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care.We are also taking a set of immediate action to start delivering the changes needed.These include actions to boost accountability and safety as part of the Government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future, and actions to hold the system to account. Specific actions include embedding a system to better identify safety concerns, rolling out a programme to all trusts to tackle discrimination and racism, and new best practice standards in maternal mortality. Although significantly more action is required, there has been some good progress made in a range of areas. They include:Achieving full population coverage of Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services for women with or at risk of mental health issues.Rollout to every Trust in England of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle, helping to reduce still births and pre-term birth.As of February 2025, having a record number of full-time equivalent midwives in post, totalling 24,991. This is over 1,400 (6.1%) more full-time equivalent midwives compared to July 2024.Nationally rolling out a new programme to reduce avoidable brain injuries in childbirth, following a successful pilot.

Whether his Department took steps to support the commemorations of the Battle of the Boyne in 2025.

The annual 12th July Commemorations are hugely significant to many in Northern Ireland, as I witnessed first hand during my visit to the County Fermanagh 12th July Parade in Irvinestown in 2024. Earlier this month, I visited Sloan’s House, the birthplace of the Orange Institution, and took the opportunity to convey my best wishes to all those preparing to mark the 12th. On the 335th Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, the Government was represented by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Fleur Anderson MP, who attended the County Armagh Parade in Keady.

What steps he has taken to improve state funded physiotherapy.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning the majority of health and care services, including physiotherapy, in England. ICBs arrange healthcare services to meet the needs of their local population, within available resources.NHS England is supporting ICBs to make informed decisions about the provision of physiotherapy services so that they can provide consistent, high quality, and integrated care.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of (a) urban design and (b) architecture skills in local planning authorities; and what steps she is taking to improve those skills.

Supporting local planning authorities to attract, retain and develop skilled planners is crucial to ensuring they provide a proactive, efficient planning service for local communities and that new developments are well designed and facilitate local growth. The government appreciates that planning departments across the country are experiencing challenges with recruitment, retention, and skills gaps and that in many cases these issues are having a negative impact on service delivery. At the Budget last year, the Chanceller announced a £46 million package of investment into the planning system as a one-year settlement for 2025-2026. Our manifesto committed us to appointing 300 new planning officers into LPAs. We are on track to meet that commitment through two routes, namely graduate recruitment through the Pathways to Planning scheme run by the Local Government Association and mid-career recruitment through Public Practice. On 27 February 2025, the government announced funding to support salaries and complement graduate bursaries. Further information can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 27 February 2025 (HCWS480). On 25 February 2025, the draft Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025 were agreed. These regulations increase planning fees for householder and other applications, with a view to providing much-needed additional resources for hard-pressed LPAs. More broadly, the Department’s established Planning Capacity and Capability programme is also developing a wider programme of support, working with partners across the planning sector, to ensure that LPAs have the skills and capacity they need, both now and in the future, to modernise local plans and speed up decision making, including through innovative use of digital planning data and software. Lastly, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes provisions that will allow LPAs to set planning fees or charges at a level that reflects the individual costs to the LPA to carry out the function for which it is imposed and to ensure that the income from planning fees or charges is applied towards the delivery of the planning function.

What steps the Government took to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne in 2025.

The annual 12th July Commemorations are hugely significant to many in Northern Ireland, as I witnessed first hand during my visit to the County Fermanagh 12th July Parade in Irvinestown in 2024. Earlier this month, I visited Sloan’s House, the birthplace of the Orange Institution, and took the opportunity to convey my best wishes to all those preparing to mark the 12th. On the 335th Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, the Government was represented by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Fleur Anderson MP, who attended the County Armagh Parade in Keady.

What recent steps she has taken with local authorities to help improve special educational and disability needs provision in (a) England and (b) Romford.

The government’s ambition for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is that they will achieve and thrive, and lead happy, healthy and productive lives. The department is working closely with experts on SEND reforms.The department and NHS England have been supporting local areas, including Havering, to improve their SEND service delivery for several years. This includes a monitoring, support and challenge relationship following an inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Where a local authority does not meet its duties, we can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement.Ofsted and the CQC undertook a joint local area SEND inspection of Havering in March 2018 and received a positive outcome (the local area was not required to produce a written statement of action).

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54690 on Tobacco: Excise Duties, if she will make a comparative assessment of the rate of decline in smoking rates as illustrated in the ONS: Adult Smoking habits in the UK data for (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023 and the rate of the decline in HMRC’s tobacco duty receipts in the Tobacco Bulletin.

Table 1 below shows adult smoking prevalence in the UK and tobacco duty receipts between 2021 and 2023. The prevalence figures are taken from the ON’S “Adult Smoking habits in the UK” dataset. The receipts figures are taken from HMRC’s Tobacco Bulletin which includes figures up to April 2025. Table 1: Adult Smoking Prevalence and Tobacco Duty Receipts 2021-2023YearUK Adult Smoking Prevalence Tobacco Duty Receipts (£ million)202113.3%10,360202212.9%10,208202311.9%8,706 The ONS smoking prevalence data shows the percentage of adults in the UK who smoke cigarettes but does not give any indication of how much or how often these adults smoke. The Office for Budget Responsibility discusses drivers of tobacco duty receipts in relation to the tobacco duty forecast on their Tobacco duties webpage. Receipts are driven by inflation (CPI and RPI), real household consumption and underlying trends in tobacco consumption. The downward trend in tobacco consumption has accelerated in recent years, partly reflecting changing attitudes and the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes.