Written questions by Snowden.

What recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the police caution in preventing defendants from withholding information during interviews and later relying on it in court.

When the police interview a suspect they must explain that they do not have to answer questions but there could be consequences if they do not by reading to them the police caution:“You do not have to say anything. But, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”If the suspect does not understand the caution because they cannot understand English, the custody officer must arrange for the assistance of an interpreter, and if they are considered to be vulnerable then they must be supported throughout the interview by an appropriate adult. Whilst in police custody or undergoing a voluntary interview the suspect has the continuing right to free legal advice.We keep the operation of police powers, including the police caution, under regular review through engagement with policing stakeholders. We are not aware of any concerns about the effectiveness of the police caution in preventing defendants from withholding information.The Home Office collects and publishes data on detentions for over 36 hours without warrant of further detention where the person was subsequently released without charge, as part of the annual ‘Police Powers and Procedures: Custody and pre-charge bail’ statistical bulletin. The data is available here: Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 62750 on Sharing Economy: Data Protection, how many people have been charged with the offence in the last 12 months.

The Home Office does not hold the information requested.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 62750 on Sharing Economy: Data Protection, what her policy is on the impact of committing this offence on the asylum applications of people seeking refugee status.

All foreign nationals, including asylum seekers, can and will face prosecution for criminal offences in the same way as any other individual in the UK, and their criminality is considered if convicted. Anyone convicted of a particularly serious crime resulting in a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, and who is considered a danger to the UK, will be denied the protection of asylum and will be considered for removal from the UK.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with mobile network operators on the (a) resilience and (b) reliability of mobile infrastructure to deliver emergency alerts during (i) power outages or (ii) network congestion.

The Emergency Alerts capability relies on mobile network operators’ infrastructure to issue alerts. Under the Communications Act 2003 and Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021, UK communications providers have a statutory requirement to take appropriate and proportionate steps to identify risks to their resilience, reduce those risks, prepare for compromises and mitigate and remedy them when they do occur. These requirements are overseen by Ofcom. The Department has regular discussions with the UK’s mobile network operators and works in partnership with communications providers to ensure that their networks remain secure, resilient, and accessible, including during emergencies.

What estimate his Department has made of the potential savings to the public purse following the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine programme.

The chickenpox vaccination programme is considered cost-effective and is expected to relieve pressures on health services that currently result from treating cases of chickenpox, saving the NHS an estimated £15 million a year in costs.The vaccination programme forms part of the Government’s wider ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever as part of our Plan for Change, boosting the nation’s health and ensuring the future sustainability of the NHS as we shift the focus of healthcare from treatment to prevention.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the ability of universities to deliver healthcare and medical training courses in the context of declining revenues.

The Department for Health and Social Care works closely with the Department for Education (DfE) on a wide range of matters, including healthcare education and training funding. Matters relating to the income of universities are the responsibility of DfE.Latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) for 2025 show that acceptances to undergraduate nursing and midwifery courses at English providers have increased by 2% when compared to the same point last year, and by 5% compared to pre-pandemic numbers in 2019. These are not final numbers. The UCAS Clearing cycle closes in October.

What steps he has taken to ensure post-market surveillance of NHS-provided weight loss drugs to monitor their long-term effects in patients.

The newest obesity medicines, liraglutide, under various brand names, semaglutide, under the brand name Wegovy, and tirzepatide, under the brand name Mounjaro, have only been licensed and recommended for use for the treatment of obesity over the last few years. We recognise the need to collect long-term data on both the effectiveness and side effects of these medicines. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) continually monitors the safety of medicines during their use, including weight loss medications. The MHRA has robust safety monitoring and surveillance systems in place for all healthcare products.For example, although semaglutide and some other GLP-1 treatments have been used in the treatment of diabetes for some-time, semaglutide, when used for weight management, as well as newer medicines like tirzepatide are subject to more intense monitoring by the MHRA as part of its Black Triangle scheme.The MHRA also strongly encourages patients and healthcare professionals to continue reporting suspected side effects to GLP-1 medicines through its Yellow Card Scheme, which collects reports of suspected adverse effects for all healthcare products. In addition, NHS England is working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the MHRA, and academic partners to collect real world evidence on the use of tirzepatide in National Health Services. This includes monitoring prescribing patterns, patient outcomes, and long-term safety signals through existing national datasets and local system level services.These measures ensure that the benefits and risks of using medicines for weight management are kept under ongoing review, and that appropriate action can be taken if safety concerns arise.

Whether he has made a comparative assessment of the cost to the NHS of procuring pharmaceutical drugs from suppliers based in the (a) USA, (b) UK and (c) EU.

NHS England has not made a comparative assessment of the cost to the NHS in England from procuring pharmaceutical drugs from suppliers based in other domains, including the EU and the USA, compared to from the UK.

Whether his Department holds data on instances where the cost of drugs sourced from American pharmaceutical companies has significantly increased in the last five years; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the impact of such increases on NHS budgets.

NHS England do not record or hold data related to the medicines purchased by the NHS categorised by base of the parent company of the supplier.

What estimate he has made of the number of NHS facilities using outdated radiator systems; and what plans he has to replace them with more efficient alternatives.

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the number of National Health Service facilities using outdated radiator systems. However, we continue to support efforts to modernise the secondary care estate and to address maintenance issues, including through investment in trust heating and energy systems. The Government’s recently published 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy set out ten-year maintenance budgets for the public estate, confirming £6 billion per year for maintenance and repair of the NHS estate up to 2034/35. In 2025/26, this includes a £750 million Estates Safety Fund which will deliver vital safety improvements, enhance patient and staff environments, and reduce disruptions to NHS clinical services, as well as over £4 billion in operational capital to be allocated to local needs. In addition, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has invested over £1 billion on NHS decarbonisation energy projects through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme since 2019.

For what reason 15 October 2025 is the closing date for the War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme; and whether mechanisms exist for extending that deadline for exceptional cases.

An update titled "War Widows Urged to Claim Recognition Payment Before October 2025 Deadline" was published on 22 August 2025 on GOV.UK to raise awareness of the Scheme's closure to ensure those eligible have the opportunity to claim before the deadline. This followed a Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 July 2025. Details have been shared with members of the Confederation of Service Charities, the War Widows' Association and other members of the Defence Bereaved Families Group (DBFG). Details were also published on the Armed Forces Covenant website on 1 September 2025. The Ministry of Defence’s Veterans Welfare Service remains available to support individuals in completing their applications. We will report back to the DBFG in 2026 with details on the final numbers and uptake of the Scheme. Since its launch on 16 October 2023, the Scheme has approved over 240 applications, awarding more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to eligible recipients. Over 70% of applications were submitted in the first three months, but activity has dropped sharply, with just 14 claims in 2025. An internal review confirmed the Scheme was on track to achieving its objectives, and with demand now significantly reduced, the Government will proceed with its planned closure on 15 October 2025. A final communications push will urge those yet to apply to act before the deadline. Further details of the internal review, including analysis can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/war-widowers-recognition-payment

What steps she is taking to ensure cyclists are aware of their responsibilities under the Highway Code.

Cyclists have a duty to behave in a safe and responsible manner and to follow the rules set out in the Highway Code. The Department promotes safety advice for cyclists via the THINK! website which contains a variety of educational resources, and through social media channels and radio advertising. Specific examples of activity to promote knowledge of the Highway Code amongst cyclists include the THINK! campaign “Travel like you know them” administered by the Department for Transport, and the “Bikeability” cycle training programme funded by Active Travel England.

What support mechanisms are in place to help (a) widows, (b) widowers and (c) civil partners complete applications for the War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme before 15 October 2025.

An update titled "War Widows Urged to Claim Recognition Payment Before October 2025 Deadline" was published on 22 August 2025 on GOV.UK to raise awareness of the Scheme's closure to ensure those eligible have the opportunity to claim before the deadline. This followed a Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 July 2025. Details have been shared with members of the Confederation of Service Charities, the War Widows' Association and other members of the Defence Bereaved Families Group (DBFG). Details were also published on the Armed Forces Covenant website on 1 September 2025. The Ministry of Defence’s Veterans Welfare Service remains available to support individuals in completing their applications. We will report back to the DBFG in 2026 with details on the final numbers and uptake of the Scheme. Since its launch on 16 October 2023, the Scheme has approved over 240 applications, awarding more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to eligible recipients. Over 70% of applications were submitted in the first three months, but activity has dropped sharply, with just 14 claims in 2025. An internal review confirmed the Scheme was on track to achieving its objectives, and with demand now significantly reduced, the Government will proceed with its planned closure on 15 October 2025. A final communications push will urge those yet to apply to act before the deadline. Further details of the internal review, including analysis can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/war-widowers-recognition-payment

What steps he is taking with international regulatory bodies to harmonise the regulation of weight loss drugs.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care and regulates medicine, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK. The MHRA is responsible for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.Weight loss medicines, like all medicines, are regulated nationally, but global harmonisation happens through bodies like the International Committee for Harmonisation (ICH), which the MHRA is a full member of.The ICH guidelines include common standards for safety, efficacy, and quality. In addition, the World Health Organisation provides international norms.Differences remain in how countries balance risks and benefits, meaning access and approval of weight loss medications can still vary worldwide. This is so that each approval matches the pathway of care in their country.To support our post-marketing signal monitoring processes, the MHRA contributes to the International Post-Market Surveillance (IPMS) teleconference between the regulatory authorities in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and Singapore. Each authority provides topics to discuss, and share information, which has on occasion included safety topics relating to weight loss medications.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to (a) schools and (b) colleges on the use of protein supplements by students engaged in sports programmes.

No specific guidance on the use of protein supplements has been issued to schools and colleges. However, the School Food Standards (SFS) are mandated to ensure that schools provide pupils with healthy food and drink options, enabling children to get the energy and nutrients they need across the school day. Protein supplements are not included under the SFS and so should not be provided by schools. Compliance with the SFS is mandatory for all maintained schools, academies and free schools, including sixth form colleges attached to secondary schools. Schools are encouraged to have a whole school approach to healthy eating, including local policies for food and drinks that can be brought onto the school site from home. School governing boards are responsible for setting their school food policies and ensuring compliance with the SFS. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2019 to 2023 reported that population level protein intakes exceed recommendations across all age and sex groups. As such, protein supplementation is largely unnecessary for the majority of the population, including children engaging in sports activities at school or college.

If his Department will publish a post-programme evaluation of the (a) uptake, (b) communication efficacy, (c) demographic reach and (d) lessons learned of the War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme within 12 months of the scheme closing.

An update titled "War Widows Urged to Claim Recognition Payment Before October 2025 Deadline" was published on 22 August 2025 on GOV.UK to raise awareness of the Scheme's closure to ensure those eligible have the opportunity to claim before the deadline. This followed a Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 July 2025. Details have been shared with members of the Confederation of Service Charities, the War Widows' Association and other members of the Defence Bereaved Families Group (DBFG). Details were also published on the Armed Forces Covenant website on 1 September 2025. The Ministry of Defence’s Veterans Welfare Service remains available to support individuals in completing their applications. We will report back to the DBFG in 2026 with details on the final numbers and uptake of the Scheme. Since its launch on 16 October 2023, the Scheme has approved over 240 applications, awarding more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to eligible recipients. Over 70% of applications were submitted in the first three months, but activity has dropped sharply, with just 14 claims in 2025. An internal review confirmed the Scheme was on track to achieving its objectives, and with demand now significantly reduced, the Government will proceed with its planned closure on 15 October 2025. A final communications push will urge those yet to apply to act before the deadline. Further details of the internal review, including analysis can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/war-widowers-recognition-payment

What steps he is taking to advertise the deadline for the closure of the War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme to eligible bereaved spouses.

An update titled "War Widows Urged to Claim Recognition Payment Before October 2025 Deadline" was published on 22 August 2025 on GOV.UK to raise awareness of the Scheme's closure to ensure those eligible have the opportunity to claim before the deadline. This followed a Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 July 2025. Details have been shared with members of the Confederation of Service Charities, the War Widows' Association and other members of the Defence Bereaved Families Group (DBFG). Details were also published on the Armed Forces Covenant website on 1 September 2025. The Ministry of Defence’s Veterans Welfare Service remains available to support individuals in completing their applications. We will report back to the DBFG in 2026 with details on the final numbers and uptake of the Scheme. Since its launch on 16 October 2023, the Scheme has approved over 240 applications, awarding more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to eligible recipients. Over 70% of applications were submitted in the first three months, but activity has dropped sharply, with just 14 claims in 2025. An internal review confirmed the Scheme was on track to achieving its objectives, and with demand now significantly reduced, the Government will proceed with its planned closure on 15 October 2025. A final communications push will urge those yet to apply to act before the deadline. Further details of the internal review, including analysis can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/war-widowers-recognition-payment

What steps she is taking to ensure that Prevent referrals made by school staff do not disproportionately impact neurodiverse children.

Prevent is about intervening early to stop people being drawn into terrorism.The Prevent duty guidance, which applies to those in the Education sector, helps to ensure that people who are susceptible to radicalisation are supported as they would be under safeguarding processes. Protecting pupils from the risk of radicalisation forms part of a schools’ wider safeguarding duties to protect children from a range of harms.When making referral, it is important to consider that neurodivergence, may - or may not - affect a person’s risk of radicalisation. Staff in education settings receive training to help them identify the signs of radicalisation and make appropriate referrals, taking account of any vulnerabilities that may be present or other factors that may be present.All referrals to Prevent are carefully assessed by specialist officers to ensure that there is a radicalisation risk before they receive support through the Channel process. Clinical psychiatrists work closely with counter-terrorism police to provide advice on how best to support cases where neurodiverse conditions might be present.Additionally, the first stage of a strategic policy review into how Prevent supports people with mental-ill health or who are neurodivergent has also concluded. This will help to ensure Prevent can effectively support people who are neurodivergent. Action is underway to implement those findings, and the Home Office will continue to work closely with the Department for Education to ensure that Prevent aligns with broader efforts to support neurodiverse children in schools.

How the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to improve the (a) monitoring and (b) reporting of adverse effects related to weight loss drugs; and what systems are in place to ensure that (i) patients and (ii) healthcare providers can report those effects.

The Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected adverse effects for all healthcare products including weight loss drugs. Reporting is open to all healthcare professionals and members of the public through a variety of methods including online, via the Yellow Card app, phone, email and paper forms. To make reporting as quick and easy as possible, there is also direct integration of Yellow Card reporting functionality available within some clinical IT systems. This includes covering over 93% of GP practices across England.To improve the quality of information captured on a Yellow Card report for weight loss medicines, we have recently introduced a number of additional questions to support ongoing monitoring of the safety of these products and rapid identification of potential safety issues.Reporting to the scheme is voluntary and therefore requires sustained efforts to promote and raise awareness of the scheme. To promote the reporting of side effects, a call to report side effects is included in all communications for weight loss medicines. For example, the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance on GLP-1 medicines contains several links to the Yellow Card Scheme, as do the Drug Safety Updates for healthcare professionals that the MHRA have published relating to these medicines. Reporting has also been encouraged on press releases issued on the illegal sales of GLP-1s and posts on the MHRA social media platforms (X, Instagram and Facebook).Alongside data collected through the Yellow Card scheme, the MHRA also monitors for adverse events through a variety of other data sources including scientific literature, epidemiological studies, regulatory reports from other countries, and periodic safety data submitted by pharmaceutical companies. All safety concerns are evaluated by our multidisciplinary teams and expert advisory groups, and where necessary, regulatory action is taken.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to ensure effective coordination between the (a) FCDO, (b) National Crime Agency and (c) Border Security Command in implementing sanctions against (i) people smugglers and (ii) their enablers.

The new regime has been established by this government to prevent and disrupt the operations of criminal gangs who smuggle people along dangerous migrant routes to attempt the channel crossing into the UK. This new regime boosts our ability to prevent, combat, deter, and disrupt irregular migration and hold smugglers and their enablers accountable.Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials engage in regular consultation with a range of key stakeholders, including the National Crime Agency and Border Security Command to ensure coordination, effectiveness and implementation.