Written questions by Snowden.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of introducing votes for 16 and 17 year olds on the size of parliamentary constituencies.

As outlined in the recently published ‘Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections’, the Government believes that enabling 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in all UK elections will foster early and sustained participation in civic life and enhance engagement in our democratic processes. By delivering this manifesto commitment, we want young people to find their voice and exercise their right to vote.In June 2025, the House of Commons Library published constituency-level estimates of the number of 16- and 17-year-olds across the UK, based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) data from 2022 for Great Britain and 2023 for Northern Ireland. These figures provide indicative estimates of the population and should be treated as approximations rather than precise counts.The government recognises the importance of understanding the implications of this policy change. Accordingly, an Impact Assessment will be published alongside forthcoming legislation in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67568 on Obesity: Drugs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that private online clinics prescribing weight loss drugs are compliant with (a) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and (b) General Medical Council guidance.

The safest way to access medicines privately is to do so via a United Kingdom-registered prescriber and pharmacy, whether in-person or online. All UK prescribers, whether employed privately or by the National Health Service, are expected to take account of appropriate national guidance, and are regulated by UK regulators. Using UK-registered pharmacies also means that the medicines received will meet UK standards of safety and efficacy. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reminded prescribers to explain the possible side effects of these medicines, and the risks around falsified products.Any UK prescriber operating in a private capacity must be a healthcare professional who is regulated by a professional regulator such as the General Medical Council (GMC) for doctors, or the General Pharmaceutical Council or Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, for pharmacists.When prescribing, doctors are expected to follow the GMC’s Good practice in proposing, prescribing, providing and managing medicines and devices, which refers to guidance from the MHRA. The General Pharmaceutical Council has strengthened safeguards for online pharmacies, including the need for extra checks to verify eligibility for obesity medicines. Guidance for registered pharmacies providing pharmacy services at a distance, including on the internet, is available at the following link:https://assets.pharmacyregulation.org/files/2025-02/gphc-guidance-registered-pharmacies-providing-pharmacy-services-distance-february-2025.pdf The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care providers in England. Private online clinics that prescribe weight loss medicines need to register with the CQC for the regulated activity of Treatment of Disease, Disorder or Injury as set out by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.The CQC can take regulatory or enforcement action where they find fundamental standards have been breached.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67568 on Obesity: Drugs, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients accessing weight loss medications through private online platforms undergo appropriate clinical assessments and safeguarding procedures.

Prescribers, whether National Health Service or private, are accountable for their prescribing decisions, and are expected to take account of appropriate national guidance.In addition to the duty of the prescriber, patients themselves must be honest when providing information to an online prescriber so that they receive advice and medicines which are appropriate for them and so that risks can be managed. Prescribers need full information to be able to prescribe safely.In February 2025, the General Pharmaceutical Council published updated guidance for online pharmacies. Prescribers are expected to verify the information given to them by the patient to ensure any medicines prescribed are appropriate, for example, through a video consultation, using a patient’s clinical record, or contacting the patient’s general practice. This helps to safeguard vulnerable patients, including minors.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of additional electors who will be added to the electoral roll following the franchise being extended to 16 and 17 year olds in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Lancashire and (d) Fylde.

As outlined in the recently published ‘Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections’, the Government believes that enabling 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in all UK elections will foster early and sustained participation in civic life and enhance engagement in our democratic processes. By delivering this manifesto commitment, we want young people to find their voice and exercise their right to vote.In June 2025, the House of Commons Library published constituency-level estimates of the number of 16- and 17-year-olds across the UK, based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) data from 2022 for Great Britain and 2023 for Northern Ireland. These figures provide indicative estimates of the population and should be treated as approximations rather than precise counts.The government recognises the importance of understanding the implications of this policy change. Accordingly, an Impact Assessment will be published alongside forthcoming legislation in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she had with the Secretary of State for Education on the adequacy of political education in schools ahead of announcing that the franchise would be expanded to 16 and 17 year olds.

Empowering and equipping young people with the knowledge and skills they need to participate in our democracy is central to the Government’s plans for extending the franchise. We want to break down barriers and drive participation. To support this, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is already working closely with the Department for Education. We will continue this engagement to ensure the change is implemented successfully.Teaching about democracy and elections already forms a central part of the national curriculum for citizenship at key stages 3 and 4 and can be taught as a non-statutory topic in primary schools. The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review is considering citizenship education as part of its work and the Government will consider any recommendations when they are published later this Autumn.We will also work with the Electoral Commission, the devolved governments, civil society organisations - and importantly, with young people themselves - to consider what additional measures can ensure the successful implementation of votes at 16.

What progress he is making on reducing waiting times for cancer treatment in Fylde.

We will reduce cancer waiting times so that patients are diagnosed and treated faster, including patients in Fylde.We have now exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments, and we have now delivered over three million more appointments as the first step to ensuring faster diagnosis and timely access to treatments.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients across the country, including in Fylde, as well as speeding up diagnosis and access to treatment. It will ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

How many buildings managed by his Department have been found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation determined what buildings on Ministry of Defence land might potentially contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) material based on the period in which they were constructed and their construction type. Surveys are currently being conducted on all buildings which may have been constructed using RAAC.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67568 on Obesity: Drugs, whether his Department has issued any guidance to the public on the risks of obtaining weight loss medications through online-only providers.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) continually monitors the safety of all medicines, including weight loss drugs such as GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs).Patient safety is our top priority, and no medicine would be approved unless it met the MHRA’s expected standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness. The MHRA has safety monitoring and surveillance systems in place, and when a safety issue is confirmed, the MHRA will act promptly to inform patients and healthcare professionals and take appropriate steps to mitigate any identified risk.In December 2024, January 2025, and June 2025, the MHRA published communications on the safe use of GLP-1Ras, namely:‘The MHRA reminds healthcare professionals to advise patients of the side effects of GLP-1 agonists and to report misuse’, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-reminds-healthcare-professionals-to-advise-patients-of-the-side-effects-of-glp-1-agonists-and-to-report-misuse;‘UK medicines regulator warns against buying weight loss medicines without a prescription this New Year’, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-medicines-regulator-warns-against-buying-weight-loss-medicines-without-a-prescription-this-new-year; and‘GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: what you need to know’, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know.The first communication advised healthcare professionals on the safe use of GLP-1 RAs, including being alert to the potential for misuse and that the benefit risk is only positive when used within the approved indications as detailed in the product information. The MHRA also advised that those purchasing privately online should do so from an authorised source such as a registered pharmacy.The second communication was aimed towards the public with similar messaging, warning the public of the dangers of accessing medicines from unregulated sources, such as online-only, unverified providers, and emphasised that GLP-1 RAs should only be used with a valid prescription and under clinical supervision. The guidance also urged healthcare professionals to advise patients on recognised side effects and to report misuse via the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme, with further information available at the following link:https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/Most recently, the MHRA issued some general guidance to the public on how to safely and effectively use GLP-1 RAs. The MHRA strongly emphasised the importance of obtaining these medicines from a legitimate pharmacy, including those trading online, with a prescription issued by a healthcare professional. The guidance directed the public in Great Britain to check on the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) website that it is properly registered, and for Northern Ireland to refer to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) website. Further information on the GPhC and the PSNI is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/registershttps://registers.psni.org.uk/The MHRA continues to keep the safety of these medicines under continual review.

How many people are on the waiting list for tinnitus treatment in Fylde constituency.

The Department does not hold information in the format requested.

How many buildings managed by his Department have been found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The National Health Service has been surveying hospital sites to identify the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) since 2019. The table below shows the number of NHS sites found to have RAAC in the Fylde constituency and Lancashire:AreaNumber of sitesFyle Constituency0Lancashire3Note: the three sites in Lancashire were the Blackpool Victoria Hospital, now eradicated, the Royal Blackburn Hospital, and the Blackburn Ambulance Station. The Department has published a full list of sites with confirmed RAAC on GOV.UK website, at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-in-hospitals-management-informationOnce the presence of RAAC is confirmed at a hospital site, the trust joins NHS England’s national RAAC programme, which has delivered mitigation and eradication works across all hospital sites with confirmed RAAC to keep facilities safe and open, and which is working to remove RAAC fully from the NHS estate.The Government is committed to removing RAAC from the NHS estate as a priority and will continue to support NHS England’s RAAC programme with £440 million in 2025/26.

How many buildings managed by her Department have been found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

We have undertaken a substantial programme of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) inspections across the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) estate and, as a result of this work, RAAC was found in one MoJ property in Lancashire. No MoJ properties in Flyde were found to contain RAAC.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on (a) due diligence and (b) vetting procedures for external contractors used for public service delivery.

Local authorities are responsible for the award of contracts in line with the procurement regulations at the time of the award. This would include undertaking due diligence on suppliers as required by those regulations.The government must ensure that there are sufficient safeguards in place to ensure appropriate suppliers are awarded public contracts. The Procurement Act 2023 has strengthened our ability to respond where issues arise and to address poor performance. Cabinet Office has published extensive guidance to support contracting authorities, in addition to a robust and wide reaching training offer to support the implementation of the Procurement Act.

How many (a) schools and (b) other education settings have been found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

There are no schools and colleges in the constituency of Fylde with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). The number of schools and colleges with confirmed RAAC in Lancashire is 3.The government has committed to resolving this problem as quickly as possible, permanently removing RAAC either through grant funding or the School Rebuilding Programme.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the adequacy of political education in schools.

I refer the hon. Member for Fylde to the answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 68042.

Communities and Local Government, whether 16 and 17 year olds who are held in (a) young offenders institutes, (b) secure training centres and (c) secure children's homes will have the same voting restrictions as adult prisoners.

There has been no change to the government’s position on prisoner voting rights, which will continue to prevent those convicted of a crime and serving a sentence in custody from voting when the franchise for non-devolved elections is extended to 16 and 17 year olds.

Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to require estate agents to disclose commission payments when recommending (a) building societies and (b) mortgage advisors to prospective purchasers.

It is unacceptable for estate agents to withhold referral fee information from customers before they decide whether to commission services from the agent's recommended supplier.Agents who fail to disclose such fees may face sanctions and it is essential that any misconduct related to referral fee transparency is reported.The government is committed to ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents. We will set out our full position on regulation of estate, letting and managing agents in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the prevalence of estate agents who do not disclose commission payments received from the (a) mortgage advisors and (b) building societies they recommend.

It is unacceptable for estate agents to withhold referral fee information from customers before they decide whether to commission services from the agent's recommended supplier.Agents who fail to disclose such fees may face sanctions and it is essential that any misconduct related to referral fee transparency is reported.The government is committed to ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents. We will set out our full position on regulation of estate, letting and managing agents in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to revise building regulations to require (a) passive or (b) mechanical cooling systems in new homes in response to rising summer temperatures.

It is the Building Regulations that ensure new housing is built to mitigate the risk of overheating. This comes through Part O of the regulations, which came into effect in June 2022. In the Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation, which ran from December 2023 – March 2024, government sought views on whether the current overheating standards are appropriate or require amendment. We are reviewing proposals and feedback from the consultation and will publish the Government response in due course.In terms of the Planning system, the National Planning Policy Framework, which was last revised in December 2024, is clear that the planning system should take full account of all climate impacts – including overheating.

What support is available to low-income households in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) across the UK to improve home cooling infrastructure in response to rising summer temperatures.

The Warm Homes Plan will help people across the country find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes fit for the future. The department is also conducting research to ensure homes are resilient to the future climate by identifying the buildings most vulnerable to extreme heat and appropriate adaptation solutions. This research is informing the development of the Warm Homes Plan which will be published in October. The department recently consulted on expanding the scope of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to allow air-to-air heat pumps to receive grant funding. The Government Response will be published in due course. Advantages of air-to-air heat pumps include the ability to provide cooling, dehumidification, and air filtration in addition to space heating.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides to local planning authorities on the installation of air conditioning systems in residential developments in anticipation of more frequent extreme heat events.

It is the Building Regulations that ensure new housing is built to mitigate the risk of overheating. This comes through Part O of the regulations, which came into effect in June 2022. In the Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation, which ran from December 2023 – March 2024, government sought views on whether the current overheating standards are appropriate or require amendment. We are reviewing proposals and feedback from the consultation and will publish the Government response in due course.In terms of the Planning system, the National Planning Policy Framework, which was last revised in December 2024, is clear that the planning system should take full account of all climate impacts – including overheating.