Written questions by Anderson.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has set any quantitative targets for the reduction in emergency-authorised pesticide applications that risk harming pollinators, following the publication of the revised guidance.

The new guidance makes clear that risks to people, animals and the environment, including risks to pollinators, will be taken fully into account. No pesticide will be granted an emergency authorisation unless the benefits outweigh those risks. The legislation governing emergency authorisations for pesticides requires that each application is assessed against strict criteria. As each application is considered on its own merits and on the basis of the relevant evidence, it is not appropriate to set a target for the number of emergency authorisations.

What trade barriers his Department has identified in the Chinese market in (a) healthcare, (b) automotive and (c) professional services sectors.

We have identified the following challenges: in healthcare, complex regulatory approval processes for medicines and medical devices; in automotive, certification requirements, consumption taxes and tariffs; and in professional services firms face restrictions on business operations, onerous licencing, data localisation requirements, and limited recognition of qualifications. We regularly raise market access issues with Chinese authorities through diplomatic channels and ministerial engagements, including during the Secretary of State's recent visit to China.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of allowing lenders to offer mortgages of over 4.5 times buyers’ income on the financial stability of mortgage lenders.

The loan-to-income (LTI) flow limit restricts the share of new mortgages that lenders can issue at or above 4.5 times a borrower’s income. It is set by the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC), which is responsible for identifying and addressing systemic risks to UK financial stability. In July 2025, the FPC judged that the system-wide cap—limiting high-LTI mortgages to no more than 15 per cent of all new owner-occupier lending—continues to provide appropriate protection against the build up of unsustainable household debt which could pose risks to financial stability in an economic downturn. However, to ensure the LTI flow limit is implemented proportionately and efficiently, the Committee recommended that the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) amend implementation of the flow limit to allow individual lenders to increase their share of high-LTI lending, provided the aggregate flow remains consistent with the 15 per cent limit. Details on this recommendation can be found in the FPC’s July Financial Stability Report. The government supports the FPC’s changes, maintaining resilience of the financial system while supporting responsible access to home ownership.

How many small and medium-sized enterprises in (a) the UK and (b) Buckingham and Bletchley constituency have exported to China in the last three years.

HMRC releases information as Official Statistics called the Trade in Goods by Business Characteristics, which is available via gov.uk. (www.uktradeinfo.com). Trade in Goods by Business Characteristics includes exports to certain pre-selected Partner Countries that includes China. This data includes exports by Business Size (Number of employees) broken down by the following categories: 0; 1 to 9; 10 to 49; 50 to 249; 250+; Unknown. The user will be able to work out SME by aggregating the first four categories in this list. Links to the relevant releases for 2021, 2022, and 2023 are below (see tab “2. Business Size” on each release): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/637ce265d3bf7f5a0b33f87f/UK_TIG_by_Business_Characteristics_2021_Country_Tables.xlsxhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6554d441d03a8d001207f9a7/UK_TIG_by_Business_Characteristics_2022_Country_Level_Tables.xlsxhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6734b5f4f6920bfb5abc7a75/UK_TIG_by_Business_Characteristics_2023_Country_Level_Tables.xlsx The release for 2024 data will be published on 27 November 2025. The breakdown by Business Size (Number of Employees) is not available for areas smaller than UK as a whole.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that new affordable housing built under the plan for 1.5 million homes will be accessible to first-time buyers whose deposit is less than 10 per cent.

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the government is supporting people into home ownership, including through the shared ownership scheme and the Lifetime ISA. The government has also introduced a new, permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, available to support and sustain availability of low deposit mortgage products for prospective buyers. Additionally, the Bank of England is easing the loan-to-income limit, enabling up to 36,000 additional first-time buyers in the first year. The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) ongoing review of the mortgage market means many buyers can now borrow 10% more towards a property purchase. The government looks forward to ambitious proposals from the FCA’s paper. First-time buyers may also benefit from home ownership initiatives offered at the local level.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential economic impact of proposed business rates reforms on the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

We are creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so the Government intends to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026-27 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.The Government does not hold data on how many businesses are eligible for Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) in individual constituencies. It is worth noting that, if a business expands to a second property, it retains SBRR on the first property for 12 months, and may retain it longer if certain conditions are met.The Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report published on 11 September sets out the Government’s next steps to deliver a fairer business rates system. This includes exploring a number of reforms to incentivise investment and improve the operation of the business rates system, including how SBRR could be enhanced to more effectively support investment and expansion among small businesses.

What estimate her Department has made of how many small businesses in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency are losing all Small Business Rates Relief when opening their second premises.

We are creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so the Government intends to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026-27 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.The Government does not hold data on how many businesses are eligible for Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) in individual constituencies. It is worth noting that, if a business expands to a second property, it retains SBRR on the first property for 12 months, and may retain it longer if certain conditions are met.The Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report published on 11 September sets out the Government’s next steps to deliver a fairer business rates system. This includes exploring a number of reforms to incentivise investment and improve the operation of the business rates system, including how SBRR could be enhanced to more effectively support investment and expansion among small businesses.

What the average reduction in waiting time achieved through the Advice and Guidance scheme was for patients registered with GP practices in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency in April 2025.

No assessment has been made of the average reduction in waiting time as a result of Advice and Guidance in April 2025 for patients in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

What steps he is taking to ensure that training curricula for the new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges align with capability requirements identified in the Strategic Defence Review.

Defence Technical Excellence Colleges will be recognised for their high-quality provision, including in training curricula, for skills important to the defence sector, including those identified through the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy. We will work closely with industry to identify their skills needs, including through the newly established Defence Industrial Joint Council.

Whether he has established a (a) monitoring and (b) evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of (i) Defence Growth Deals and (ii) Defence Technical Excellence Colleges.

Each Defence Growth Deal will be bespoke to their location and we will work with devolved and local Governments, industry and academia to shape the Deals in a way that is best for that area. This includes developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks that align with the Government’s Plan for Change. The Department for Education, working with the Ministry of Defence, Defence Technical Excellence Colleges and partners in the skills system, will design a monitoring and evaluation framework that helps support successful delivery of key objectives. This includes boosting defence related skills provision and ensuring clear pathways into defence sector jobs; high quality teaching practice and curricula in defence-related courses; and leveraging employer engagement and investment in defence-skills provision.

What estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the Defence Industrial Strategy on (a) regional and (b) sectoral employment figures in (i) cyber-security, (ii) submarine engineering, (iii) aerospace and space systems and (iv) other technical sub-sectors.

The Ministry of Defence has not released specific public estimates regarding the regional and sectoral employment impacts of the Defence Industrial Strategy. However, the Defence Industrial Strategy focuses on creating high-skilled jobs and fostering growth in key technical sub-sectors such as cyber-security, submarine engineering, aerospace, other technical sub-sectors and space systems, with the aim of bolstering the UK’s defence industrial base and supporting regional economic development.

How much he plans to spend annually on research and development associated with the (a) Future Combat Air System and (b) Global Combat Air Programme in the next five years.

The forthcoming ten-year Defence Investment Plan will outline the Department’s spending plans in line with the Strategic Defence Review and Spending Review outcomes.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that the partnership with the United Arab Emirates on tackling illicit finance is aligned with the objectives set out in the UK’s Economic Crime Plan, 2023 to 2026.

The UK-UAE Illicit Finance Partnership incorporates objectives from the Economic Crime Plan 2 (ECP2), which sets the UK’s whole-system response to economic crime. Strong progress was made against ECP2 objectives during the UK-UAE Illicit Finance Dialogue in September 2025, when the UAE visited London to advance talks on cooperation in areas such as asset recovery and fraud. As a global financial centres, the UK and UAE have joint responsibility to tackle illicit finance through our partnership, while achieving strategic outcomes set out in the Economic Crime Plan 2.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the total number of households in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency that remain without access to central government-supported flood resilience measures.

Flood Resilience Measures include Natural Flood Management, Property Flood Resilience (PFR), and Sustainable Drainage Systems. These can be effective at reducing the impacts of flooding but are always considered against a range of flood risk management options. The National Flood Risk Assessment identifies 196 properties at high or medium risk from fluvial flooding within this constituency. The Environment Agency are undertaking a new 'Initial Assessment' for Buckingham which will look at flood risk data and create a high-level evaluation of potential mitigation measures. A further 2629 properties are identified at high or medium risk from surface water flooding. Surface water flood management is the responsibility of the Lead Local Flood Authority. The FCRM Investment Programme includes the following projects to reduce risk from surface water: Leckhampsted Natural Flood ManagementTingewick Flood Alleviation SchemeBuckingham Natural Flood ManagementBuckingham Property Flood Resilience Study

What proportion of GP practices had signed up to the Advice and Guidance scheme by 30 April 2025 in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

The specific information requested is not held centrally by the Department as it is held at individual integrated care board (ICB) level. Buckingham and Bletchley constituency is served by two different ICBs, namely Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire & West Berkshire ICB and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB.

What processes are in place to review the effectiveness of the new co-operation with the United Arab Emirates in disrupting cross-border money laundering and terrorist financing activities.

The UK-UAE Partnership to Tackle Illicit Financial Flows is long-standing. Engagement to strengthen international cooperation on illicit finance is a Government-wide approach, and cooperation between the UK and UAE includes cross-Department Ministerial oversight. The UAE’s and UK’s next mutual evaluations by the Financial Action Task Force will be in 2026 and 2027 respectively, which will provide an independent assessment of the effectiveness of our respective anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing regimes, including international cooperation.

What resources his Department has provided to facilitate the participation by GP practices in the Advice and Guidance scheme in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency since 1 April 2025.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) were instructed to invite all general practices to participate in the enhanced service specification for General Practice Requests for Advice and Guidance (A&G) 2025/26, which sees practices entitled to claim a £20 fee per request for pre-referral advice and guidance, no later than 13 May 2025. The Government has made £80 million available to fund up to four million A&G requests so general practitioners (GPs) can access advice ahead of making a referral, recognising the importance of their role in ensuring patient care takes place in the most appropriate setting.NHS England has developed supporting resources to aid continued use of A&G, including a toolkit with guidance for GPs as well as for commissioners and secondary care clinical teams, and an operational delivery framework which sets a roadmap for ICBs to expand and improve their use of A&G across seven themes and with a set of minimum standards for best practice.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role UK diplomatic posts in the Gulf region will play in monitoring and supporting implementation of the enhanced partnership with the United Arab Emirates on illicit finance.

The UK-UAE Partnership to Tackle Illicit Financial Flows, chaired by the Home Office, is a cross-governmental effort to strengthen operational cooperation and disrupt financial crime. A senior UAE delegation visited the UK on 2 and 3 September to advance this work. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) sets and evaluates countries against global standards, which is a separate and technical process. Our bilateral engagement complements implementation of the FATF standards and supports international financial integrity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of how the UK-UAE partnership on illicit finance will interact with multilateral initiatives such as the Financial Action Task Force.

The UK-UAE Partnership to Tackle Illicit Financial Flows, chaired by the Home Office, is a cross-governmental effort to strengthen operational cooperation and disrupt financial crime. A senior UAE delegation visited the UK on 2 and 3 September to advance this work. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) sets and evaluates countries against global standards, which is a separate and technical process. Our bilateral engagement complements implementation of the FATF standards and supports international financial integrity.

Over what timeframe his Department plans to evaluate the outcomes of the Summer Internship Programme for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Our first cohort of interns will be joining in Summer 2026 so we anticipate impacts will begin to be visible on the Autumn 2027 Fast Stream intake as participating students graduate from university and seek to join the programme. We will continue to publish Fast Stream recruitment data on an annual basis.