Written questions by MacDonald.

What discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education on teaching the importance of early detection of breast cancer to young people.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.It is important to educate people about the causes and symptoms of cancer and the department is supportive of efforts to do this at an early age.The revised relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance was published on 15 July. Cancer awareness and other specific cancer-related content is included. At secondary school, as part of the ‘Health protection and prevention, and understanding the healthcare system’ topic, pupils are taught the importance of taking responsibility for their own health and the benefits of regular self-examination and screening.Schools may also teach about cancer awareness in other areas of the national curriculum. For example, the secondary science curriculum ensures pupils are taught about non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, and the impact of lifestyle factors on the incidence of these diseases. Furthermore, in design and food technology, schools highlight the importance of nutrition and a healthy diet.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help improve enforcement where employers (a) delay and (b) withhold data in response to subject access requests.

The ICO can and does take action against organisations, as a result of people’s complaints about their right of access to personal data. Information about the ICO’s enforcement action is available at: https://ico.org.uk/action-weve-taken/.A requester may also apply for a court order requiring an organisation to comply with a subject access request or to seek compensation. It is a matter for the court to decide, in each particular case, what action to take.The ICO is currently consulting on changes to how it handles complaints, with a view to improving data protection compliance. The consultation closes on 31 October: https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/ico-and-stakeholder-consultations/2025/08/ico-consultation-on-draft-changes-to-how-we-handle-data-protection-complaints/.

What discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education on the allocated number of domestic places at the University of Stirling.

Education and training is a devolved matter. This means that the Scottish Government set education and training policy in Scotland, including the policy to limit the number of publicly funded undergraduate places available to Scottish-domiciled students. Students from the rest of the UK are not subject to the same recruitment caps as Scottish students.Higher education providers are independent from government and are responsible for their own admissions decisions. The number of places available for students from the rest of the UK is managed separately by institutions who will set recruitment targets in line with their own institutional strategy.

What discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education on the allocated number of domestic places at the University of Aberdeen.

Education and training is a devolved matter. This means that the Scottish Government set education and training policy in Scotland, including the policy to limit the number of publicly funded undergraduate places available to Scottish-domiciled students. Students from the rest of the UK are not subject to the same recruitment caps as Scottish students.Higher education providers are independent from government and are responsible for their own admissions decisions. The number of places available for students from the rest of the UK is managed separately by institutions who will set recruitment targets in line with their own institutional strategy.

What discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education on the allocated number of domestic places at the University of Edinburgh.

Education and training is a devolved matter. This means that the Scottish Government set education and training policy in Scotland, including the policy to limit the number of publicly funded undergraduate places available to Scottish-domiciled students. Students from the rest of the UK are not subject to the same recruitment caps as Scottish students.Higher education providers are independent from government and are responsible for their own admissions decisions. The number of places available for students from the rest of the UK is managed separately by institutions who will set recruitment targets in line with their own institutional strategy.

What steps he is taking to improve the enforcement of legal protections for women returning to work after maternity leave.

Women returning from maternity, adoption, or six continuous weeks of shared parental or neonatal leave are entitled to enhanced redundancy protection. However, the government is strengthening legal protections, as we know this group continues to face a particular risk to their job security.We'll make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, and mothers returning to work for a six-month period - except in specific circumstances. This starts with the Employment Rights Bill, with protections in force from 2027. From April 2026, the Fair Work Agency will strengthen the enforcement of rights, with women expected to particularly benefit.

What discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education on the allocated number of domestic places at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Education and training is a devolved matter. This means that the Scottish Government set education and training policy in Scotland, including the policy to limit the number of publicly funded undergraduate places available to Scottish-domiciled students. Students from the rest of the UK are not subject to the same recruitment caps as Scottish students.Higher education providers are independent from government and are responsible for their own admissions decisions. The number of places available for students from the rest of the UK is managed separately by institutions who will set recruitment targets in line with their own institutional strategy.

What plans he has to improve healthcare provision for people with Friedreich’s Ataxia.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Friedreich’s ataxia. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community. These are: getting a final diagnosis faster; increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals; better coordination of care; and improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We published the annual England Rare Diseases Action Plan in February 2025, where we reported on the steps we have taken to advance these priorities.NHS England has revised the national service specification for specialised neurology following extensive consultation. The service specification was published on 13 August 2025 and includes guidance on both specialised and core neurology services. The specification includes an Annex which provides greater clarity for neurology sub-specialties, including the categories of both movement disorders and neurogenetics into which Friedreich’s Ataxia would fall.Additionally, the national specialised commissioning neurology transformation programme has developed guidance as part of an integrated care system toolkit, specifically to support the implementation of the service specification. Every specialised neurology centre could and should see patients with Friedreich’s Ataxia.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential risk of political donations being made via UK-registered companies controlled by individuals who are not registered electors in the UK.

Stakeholders have raised concerns for more than a decade that our legal framework regulating political donations makes it too easy for determined actors to facilitate illegal donations, allowing foreign states to influence politics and decision-making in the UK. That is why, as pledged in our manifesto, we are strengthening the rules around donations to political parties. In July, we published our Strategy for Modern Elections which set out a number of reforms to political donations rules. These changes will mean greater transparency in political funding, stronger protections against foreign or illicit influence, and increased public confidence in the integrity of our democratic institutions. This includes a measure which will ensure that in future, ‘shell companies’ will not be permitted to make political donations to UK political parties. In the development of these reforms we have worked and continue to work closely with the Electoral Commission, and considered relevant analysis. We will legislate to bring forward these reforms as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with the Electoral Commission on donations made through UK-registered companies (a) owned and (b) controlled by foreign nationals.

Stakeholders have raised concerns for more than a decade that our legal framework regulating political donations makes it too easy for determined actors to facilitate illegal donations, allowing foreign states to influence politics and decision-making in the UK. That is why, as pledged in our manifesto, we are strengthening the rules around donations to political parties. In July, we published our Strategy for Modern Elections which set out a number of reforms to political donations rules. These changes will mean greater transparency in political funding, stronger protections against foreign or illicit influence, and increased public confidence in the integrity of our democratic institutions. This includes a measure which will ensure that in future, ‘shell companies’ will not be permitted to make political donations to UK political parties. In the development of these reforms we have worked and continue to work closely with the Electoral Commission, and considered relevant analysis. We will legislate to bring forward these reforms as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the value of political donations received by UK political parties from UK-registered companies with beneficial owners based outside the UK since 2019.

Stakeholders have raised concerns for more than a decade that our legal framework regulating political donations makes it too easy for determined actors to facilitate illegal donations, allowing foreign states to influence politics and decision-making in the UK. That is why, as pledged in our manifesto, we are strengthening the rules around donations to political parties. In July, we published our Strategy for Modern Elections which set out a number of reforms to political donations rules. These changes will mean greater transparency in political funding, stronger protections against foreign or illicit influence, and increased public confidence in the integrity of our democratic institutions. This includes a measure which will ensure that in future, ‘shell companies’ will not be permitted to make political donations to UK political parties. In the development of these reforms we have worked and continue to work closely with the Electoral Commission, and considered relevant analysis. We will legislate to bring forward these reforms as soon as parliamentary time allows.

What steps her Department is taking to help support employees with invisible disabilities to access adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.

Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce. All employers have a duty under the Equality Act 2010(opens in a new tab) to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ in the workplace where a disabled person would otherwise be put at a substantial disadvantage compared with their colleagues. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act and providing guidance on reasonable adjustments. In our Get Britain Working White Paper, published November 2024, we committed support for employers to recruit, retain and develop staff. As part of that, the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business and Trade have asked Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead ‘Keep Britain Working’, an independent review to consider how best to support and enable employers to recruit and retain more people with health conditions and disabilities, promote healthy workplaces, and support more people to stay in or return to work from periods of sickness absence. Sir Charlie Mayfield will deliver a final report with recommendations in the autumn. In January this year, we launched an expert academic panel to advise us on boosting neurodiversity awareness and inclusion at work. The panel will consider the reasons why neurodivergent people have poor experiences in the workplace, and a low overall employment rate, making their recommendations later this autumn. There are a range of existing initiatives that already provide support. The Disability Confident Scheme encourages employers to create disability inclusive workplaces and to support disabled people to get work and get on in work. The scheme covers all disabilities, including hidden disabilities. It provides employers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to attract, recruit, retain and develop disabled people in the workplace and to take positive action to address the issues disabled employees face.

Whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of reasonable adjustment processes for employees with (a) neurodivergent and (b) mental health conditions.

Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce. All employers have a duty under the Equality Act 2010(opens in a new tab) to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ in the workplace where a disabled person would otherwise be put at a substantial disadvantage compared with their colleagues. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act and providing guidance on reasonable adjustments. In our Get Britain Working White Paper, published November 2024, we committed support for employers to recruit, retain and develop staff. As part of that, the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business and Trade have asked Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead ‘Keep Britain Working’, an independent review to consider how best to support and enable employers to recruit and retain more people with health conditions and disabilities, promote healthy workplaces, and support more people to stay in or return to work from periods of sickness absence. Sir Charlie Mayfield will deliver a final report with recommendations in the autumn. In January this year, we launched an expert academic panel to advise us on boosting neurodiversity awareness and inclusion at work. The panel will consider the reasons why neurodivergent people have poor experiences in the workplace, and a low overall employment rate, making their recommendations later this autumn. There are a range of existing initiatives that already provide support. The Disability Confident Scheme encourages employers to create disability inclusive workplaces and to support disabled people to get work and get on in work. The scheme covers all disabilities, including hidden disabilities. It provides employers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to attract, recruit, retain and develop disabled people in the workplace and to take positive action to address the issues disabled employees face.

What discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education on the allocated number of domestic places at the University of St. Andrews.

Education and training is a devolved matter. This means that the Scottish Government set education and training policy in Scotland, including the policy to limit the number of publicly funded undergraduate places available to Scottish-domiciled students. Students from the rest of the UK are not subject to the same recruitment caps as Scottish students.Higher education providers are independent from government and are responsible for their own admissions decisions. The number of places available for students from the rest of the UK is managed separately by institutions who will set recruitment targets in line with their own institutional strategy.

What discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education on the allocated number of domestic places at the University of Glasgow.

Education and training is a devolved matter. This means that the Scottish Government set education and training policy in Scotland, including the policy to limit the number of publicly funded undergraduate places available to Scottish-domiciled students. Students from the rest of the UK are not subject to the same recruitment caps as Scottish students.Higher education providers are independent from government and are responsible for their own admissions decisions. The number of places available for students from the rest of the UK is managed separately by institutions who will set recruitment targets in line with their own institutional strategy.

Communities and Local Government, what recent steps her Department has taken to help strengthen safeguards against foreign interference in UK political funding.

Stakeholders have raised concerns for more than a decade that our legal framework regulating political donations makes it too easy for determined actors to facilitate illegal donations, allowing foreign states to influence politics and decision-making in the UK. That is why, as pledged in our manifesto, we are strengthening the rules around donations to political parties. In July, we published our Strategy for Modern Elections which set out a number of reforms to political donations rules. These changes will mean greater transparency in political funding, stronger protections against foreign or illicit influence, and increased public confidence in the integrity of our democratic institutions. This includes a measure which will ensure that in future, ‘shell companies’ will not be permitted to make political donations to UK political parties. In the development of these reforms we have worked and continue to work closely with the Electoral Commission, and considered relevant analysis. We will legislate to bring forward these reforms as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on improving DAB radio coverage in (a) rural and (b) remote areas.

The government is highly supportive of the value of radio in local communities, and wants to support areas that are struggling to gain access to local services on digital. Commercial radio and the BBC are responsible for the operation of their respective radio networks, including the DAB radio networks. This includes delivering coverage to areas and the provision of radio services to listeners as more listening migrates to digital radio and to online services. DAB household coverage was assessed by the Digital Radio and Audio Review report published in October 2021. The Review concluded that the financial challenges involved meant that further DAB coverage by the BBC and commercial radio over the next 5 years was likely to be modest. While there are no current plans by the BBC to further expand the coverage of its national DAB network or by commercial radio operators to add more sites to the local DAB network, the government will continue to work with the BBC and commercial radio on developing future options. As well as supporting the improvements to national and local DAB coverage, DCMS has backed the development of small-scale DAB with Ofcom and the radio industry. Small-scale DAB is a new way of transmitting digital radio that uses advances in software and low-cost computer technology to provide a flexible and inexpensive approach to the terrestrial broadcast of digital radio services to a relatively small geographic area. This initiative will provide local commercial and community radio stations with a viable opportunity to broadcast on digital, and reach under-served areas.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of people who have faced identity fraud through impersonation.

Cifas, a not-for-profit fraud prevention organisation, holds records of first and third-party fraud risk, including identity fraud. In the first six months of 2025, Cifas reported that over 118,000 identity fraud cases were reported to their NFD in their Fraudscape 2025 six-month update (Fraudscape 2025 - Cifas).Identity theft is not a standalone criminal offence and not included in official crime statistics The Independent Review of Fraud Offences will consider whether a specific offence for identity theft is needed.We also recognise that one of the most effective ways of preventing identity theft enabled fraud is to improve the safety and security of the identity systems we use. The Government is developing proposals for a digital identity system, to enable people to prove their identity securely, without physical documents, with the aim of reducing identity-enabled fraud and crime. Information on digital identity and the Trust Framework can be found here: UK digital identity and attributes trust framework - GOV.UK.It is also important to empower the public to protect themselves and keep their identities safe. That is why we have introduced a checklist, providing advice and steps on how to prevent the misuse of identities: Identity fraud victims' checklist.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the extension of local DAB multiplexes in areas where coverage is limited.

The government is highly supportive of the value of radio in local communities, and wants to support areas that are struggling to gain access to local services on digital. Commercial radio and the BBC are responsible for the operation of their respective radio networks, including the DAB radio networks. This includes delivering coverage to areas and the provision of radio services to listeners as more listening migrates to digital radio and to online services. DAB household coverage was assessed by the Digital Radio and Audio Review report published in October 2021. The Review concluded that the financial challenges involved meant that further DAB coverage by the BBC and commercial radio over the next 5 years was likely to be modest. While there are no current plans by the BBC to further expand the coverage of its national DAB network or by commercial radio operators to add more sites to the local DAB network, the government will continue to work with the BBC and commercial radio on developing future options. As well as supporting the improvements to national and local DAB coverage, DCMS has backed the development of small-scale DAB with Ofcom and the radio industry. Small-scale DAB is a new way of transmitting digital radio that uses advances in software and low-cost computer technology to provide a flexible and inexpensive approach to the terrestrial broadcast of digital radio services to a relatively small geographic area. This initiative will provide local commercial and community radio stations with a viable opportunity to broadcast on digital, and reach under-served areas.

What assessment he has made of the importance of (a) early intervention and (b) prevention before the cure in eating disorder treatment.

The Government recognises that the earlier that treatment is provided, the better the chance of short-term recovery. We are committed to ensuring that everyone with an eating disorder can access specialist help.As part of our mission to build an NHS fit for the future, there is a critical need to shift treatment of eating disorders from hospital to the community. NHS England is currently seeking to expand the capacity of children’s community eating disorder services, to allow for crisis care and intensive home treatment. Improved care in the community will give young people early access to evidence-based treatment involving families and carers, improving outcomes and preventing relapse. By preventing eating disorders from progressing to adulthood, we will build on our aim of raising the healthiest generation of children.Early intervention is a priority for adults with eating disorders too, as set out in NHS’s Adult Community Mental Health Framework. NHS England have established 15 Provider Collaboratives focusing on adult eating disorders. These Collaboratives are working to redesign care pathways, and focus resources on community services. By providing treatment earlier and closer to home, we will see better outcomes for adults with eating disorders and their families.