Written questions by Anderson.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU security and defence partnership on the interoperability of UK armed forces with EU member states.

The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership aims to support enhanced interoperability in ways that deliver mutual benefit and reinforce the European contribution to NATO. The Partnership will support and complement our commitment to NATO — which remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security — and to the UK’s strong bilateral defence relationships with both EU member states and third country allies. It strengthens our ability to act jointly where interests align, while preserving the UK’s strategic autonomy and global defence posture.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the geographical distribution of cattle-specific infrastructure grants under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

The deadline for full applications for the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare grant was the 30 April 2025. There were no geographic targets for the grant. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is in the process of reviewing and approving final applications for the grant. It is too early to assess the distribution of grants awarded, until all full applications have been assessed and grant funding agreements issued to successful applicants.

What assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of demand for independent sexual violence advisers in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) Milton Keynes.

The Ministry of Justice recognises the important role that Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) play in supporting victims of sexual violence.The Department provides annual grant funding to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales for the provision of emotional, practical and therapeutic support to victims which includes advocacy support from ISVAs. The provision of ISVA services across all PCC areas (including Thames Valley, which covers both Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes) is monitored through bi-annual reports. We have protected dedicated VAWG victims spending in the Department by maintaining previous funding levels for ringfenced sexual violence and domestic abuse support in 2025/26.Once commenced, the Duty to Collaborate will build greater local insight into demand for sexual abuse services, including ISVAs. The Duty will require local policing bodies, local authorities and integrated care boards to conduct joint needs assessments in their areas, assessing victim demand for services and subsequently publishing local strategies to address these.We continue to work closely with local commissioners to ensure that victims in all areas, including Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, have access to support.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-New Zealand trade agreement on SME exporters located in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) Milton Keynes.

The UK-New Zealand FTA benefits every region of the UK including Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. It also includes commitments to support SMEs to trade, including through a standalone SME chapter. Data is not collected centrally on the impact of the UK-New Zealand trade agreement on SME exporters located in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. However, since entry into force, there are early indications of positive uptake of the agreement’s benefits by British exporters. According to official data from New Zealand, between June 2023 and Dec 2024 £164.2m (80.7%) of goods imports into New Zealand from the UK used preferential tariffs. Had these occurred at standard Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates, they could have encountered an additional £9.3m in duties.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure investor protection is maintained alongside regulatory reform in capital markets.

The government is committed to reinvigorating our capital markets to deliver growth across the UK and is pursuing ambitious reforms to make our markets even more competitive. These reforms, including the FCA’s new UK Listings Rules and the government’s prospectus reforms, will benefit all firms including fintech firms. The government is committed to an approach to financial services regulation which strikes the right balance between driving UK economic growth and providing robust safeguards for investors. The FCA has a primary objective to protect consumers, and a secondary objective to facilitate international competitiveness and growth.

What mechanisms are in place to monitor the progress of joint UK-EU initiatives on space security agreed in the UK-EU Summit Common Understanding.

The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership provides a framework for cooperation on key issues, including space security. As implementation plans develop, progress will be monitored through structured dialogue and consultation mechanisms. The UK and EU will cooperate on space-related security issues, including through multilateral fora such as the United Nations and within the framework of EU-NATO cooperation. The Partnership will help promote norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviour in outer space.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of eligible cattle holdings that will access support through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway by 2027.

Animal health and welfare is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Cattle farm businesses are currently able to claim funding for the Animal Health and Welfare Review (AHWR) and Endemic Disease Follow-up if they have more than 10 cattle. Defra’s analysis of AHWR uptake published on 20 February 2025 estimated that there are 30025 eligible cattle holdings and an uptake rate of 8.9%. Uptake is expected to increase as planned iterations to the scheme are implemented. We are reforecasting estimated uptake rates based on these changes. We encourage all eligible holdings to join the schemes to take advantage of the support on offer. The February 2025 analysis of uptake is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animal-health-and-welfare-review-uptake/animal-health-and-welfare-review-uptake#eligible-farm-businesses-in-england

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of capital markets reform on fintech firms.

The government is committed to reinvigorating our capital markets to deliver growth across the UK and is pursuing ambitious reforms to make our markets even more competitive. These reforms, including the FCA’s new UK Listings Rules and the government’s prospectus reforms, will benefit all firms including fintech firms. The government is committed to an approach to financial services regulation which strikes the right balance between driving UK economic growth and providing robust safeguards for investors. The FCA has a primary objective to protect consumers, and a secondary objective to facilitate international competitiveness and growth.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System on SME listings on UK capital markets.

The Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES) seeks to complement the government’s wide ranging and ongoing reforms to boost the UK as a listing destination. PISCES aims to make private secondary markets more transparent and efficient, while also supporting private companies prepare for an IPO in the UK.

What steps his Department is taking to facilitate the UK defence industry’s access to the EU’s €150 billion defence loan programme, in the context of the UK-EU security and defence partnership.

As this is a critical moment for the security of our continent, we welcome European efforts to increase defence spending, through the ReArm initiative including the EU’s €150 billion loan programme, also known as SAFE (Security Action for Europe). The UK and the EU have agreed an ambitious new Security and Defence Partnership as part of a wider package of the UK-EU reset. Crucially, the Security and Defence Partnership means the UK now meets the criteria for discussing participation in common procurement under SAFE, which could provide new opportunities for our defence industry. Recognising the important role that the UK’s defence industry plays already for European security, we have set out our ambition to swiftly explore the potential for enhanced cooperation through the proposed SAFE instrument, as soon as the EU’s necessary processes are complete.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the four per cent pay award for teachers in 2025/26 on retention rates in (a) Milton Keynes and (b) Buckinghamshire.

High-quality teaching is the in-school factor that has the biggest positive impact on a child’s educational outcome. Recruiting and retaining more qualified, expert teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost the life chances for every child. This is why the department is committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 new teachers across secondary and special schools and in our colleges over the course of this Parliament.The department cannot currently provide a breakdown of this progress by constituency, however, over 2,000 more people are training to become secondary school teachers this year. Recruitment is on track to improve further for 2025/26, with 1,070 more acceptances to postgraduate and teacher degree apprenticeship initial teacher training courses in secondary subjects by the end of April 2025, compared to the same time last year. Additionally, over 2,500 more teachers are expected to stay in the profession over the next three years.This is, in part, due to the 5.5% pay rise announced last year, which, combined with this year’s above-inflation pay award of 4%, will mean school teachers in maintained schools will see an increase in their pay of almost 10% over two years. This will apply across all teachers in all constituencies across England and is already having a significant impact on teacher retention. Alongside this, the department is offering targeted retention payments to teachers of key subjects working in disadvantaged areas in the first five years of their careers. Teachers in four schools are eligible for these payments, up to £4,000 tax free, in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency, 12 in Milton Keynes, and 24 in Buckinghamshire County.To further improve retention, the department is actively promoting flexible working in schools, such as allowing planning, preparation, and assessment to be undertaken from home. We are also funding bespoke support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and multi-academy trusts, ensuring schools are capturing the benefits of flexible working, whilst protecting pupils’ face-to-face teacher time. Upton Court Grammar School of Pioneer Educational Trust is the flexible working ambassador school for the South East, providing local, tailored peer support for Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire.

What steps her Department is taking to remove dangerous weapons from the streets in Milton Keynes.

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. Driving down youth-related violence across the UK, including in Milton Keynes, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.Through the Young Futures Programme, the Government will introduce Prevention Partnerships across the country, including in Thames Valley, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.As we design the Young Futures Programme, we will ensure that it learns from and builds on the work of the Violence Reduction Units (VRUs). VRUs bring together partners, including representatives from local education institutions and from the voluntary and community sector, to understand and tackle the drivers of serious violence in their area.In 2025/26 the Home Office is investing £1.5m in grant funding to Thames Valley VRU, alongside £280k to continue the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty.This funding will support delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, which includes continuation of a Focussed Deterrence intervention in Milton Keynes. This project will be targeted at young people who carry knives and providing them with tailored multi-agency support to desist from violence, alongside enforcement measures. Funding will also support the development and roll out of training for parents, schools and community groups in Thames Valley on the signs of criminal exploitation, in order that young people at risk are identified and supported.Alongside investment in local violence prevention approaches, we are also committed to removing weapons from our streets. Stop and search is a vital tool for tackling crime. Last year 16,066 stop and searches led to offensive weapons or firearms being found and taken off our streets.On 24 September 2024 we implemented the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes, and from 1 August 2025 it will also be illegal to sell or own ninja swords. We have announced “Ronan’s Law” a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives including strengthening age verification controls and checks through a two-stage age verification system at the point of purchase and on delivery, and we are also intending to consult later this year on a registration scheme for online sellers of knives.With measures in the Crime and Policing Bill 2025 we are increasing the penalties for illegal sales of knives, creating a new offence of possessing a knife with the intention to commit unlawful violence and are giving the police a new power to seize knives when they believe they are likely to be used in connection with unlawful violence.

What progress her Department has made in recruiting additional expert teachers in (a) secondary schools, (b) special schools and (c) colleges in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

High-quality teaching is the in-school factor that has the biggest positive impact on a child’s educational outcome. Recruiting and retaining more qualified, expert teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost the life chances for every child. This is why the department is committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 new teachers across secondary and special schools and in our colleges over the course of this Parliament.The department cannot currently provide a breakdown of this progress by constituency, however, over 2,000 more people are training to become secondary school teachers this year. Recruitment is on track to improve further for 2025/26, with 1,070 more acceptances to postgraduate and teacher degree apprenticeship initial teacher training courses in secondary subjects by the end of April 2025, compared to the same time last year. Additionally, over 2,500 more teachers are expected to stay in the profession over the next three years.This is, in part, due to the 5.5% pay rise announced last year, which, combined with this year’s above-inflation pay award of 4%, will mean school teachers in maintained schools will see an increase in their pay of almost 10% over two years. This will apply across all teachers in all constituencies across England and is already having a significant impact on teacher retention. Alongside this, the department is offering targeted retention payments to teachers of key subjects working in disadvantaged areas in the first five years of their careers. Teachers in four schools are eligible for these payments, up to £4,000 tax free, in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency, 12 in Milton Keynes, and 24 in Buckinghamshire County.To further improve retention, the department is actively promoting flexible working in schools, such as allowing planning, preparation, and assessment to be undertaken from home. We are also funding bespoke support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and multi-academy trusts, ensuring schools are capturing the benefits of flexible working, whilst protecting pupils’ face-to-face teacher time. Upton Court Grammar School of Pioneer Educational Trust is the flexible working ambassador school for the South East, providing local, tailored peer support for Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire.

What steps his Department is taking to support investment into key growth sectors through the UK-Gulf economic partnerships.

The Department for Business and Trade maintains strong relations with Gulf investors and encourages them towards opportunities in key growth sectors through the Strategic and Sovereign Investment partnerships coordinated by the Office for Investment. We also encourage investment through broader diplomatic forums, such as the UK-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council. Furthermore, we are negotiating a GCC Free Trade Agreement that will build on our strong investment relationship and support further investment, including in UK growth sectors.

What steps her Department is taking to evaluate the long-term fiscal impacts of the UK-Japan partnership.

The Treasury does not produce official economic and fiscal forecasts. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing forecasts of the UK economy. The relationship has strengthened in recent years, following the 2020 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the 2023 Hiroshima Accord, underlining the importance of the UK's relationship with Japan. These agreements have led to stronger economic ties, promoted trade and investment, and targeted mutual economic growth and resilience.

What assessment her Department has made of the UK’s fiscal resilience in the context of trade liberalisation with Indo-Pacific partners.

The Treasury does not produce official economic and fiscal forecasts. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility is responsible for producing forecasts of the UK economy. Growth is the central mission of the government and can support the stability of the public finances. Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) can help to deliver growth, by reducing the costs of trade between partner countries and driving a more efficient allocation of resources within sectors, as well as wide range of other macroeconomic gains. The UK recently agreed a comprehensive FTA with India and acceded to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in December 2024. The UK also has FTAs with Australia and New Zealand. As the Business and Trade Secretary announced in a Written Ministerial Statement in July 2024, the government intends to agree a deal with the Republic of Korea as part of its FTA negotiations programme.

What steps her Department is taking to support community groups in Milton Keynes to prevent youth involvement in violent crime.

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. Driving down youth-related violence across the UK, including in Milton Keynes, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.Through the Young Futures Programme, the Government will introduce Prevention Partnerships across the country, including in Thames Valley, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.As we design the Young Futures Programme, we will ensure that it learns from and builds on the work of the Violence Reduction Units (VRUs). VRUs bring together partners, including representatives from local education institutions and from the voluntary and community sector, to understand and tackle the drivers of serious violence in their area.In 2025/26 the Home Office is investing £1.5m in grant funding to Thames Valley VRU, alongside £280k to continue the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty.This funding will support delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, which includes continuation of a Focussed Deterrence intervention in Milton Keynes. This project will be targeted at young people who carry knives and providing them with tailored multi-agency support to desist from violence, alongside enforcement measures. Funding will also support the development and roll out of training for parents, schools and community groups in Thames Valley on the signs of criminal exploitation, in order that young people at risk are identified and supported.Alongside investment in local violence prevention approaches, we are also committed to removing weapons from our streets. Stop and search is a vital tool for tackling crime. Last year 16,066 stop and searches led to offensive weapons or firearms being found and taken off our streets.On 24 September 2024 we implemented the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes, and from 1 August 2025 it will also be illegal to sell or own ninja swords. We have announced “Ronan’s Law” a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives including strengthening age verification controls and checks through a two-stage age verification system at the point of purchase and on delivery, and we are also intending to consult later this year on a registration scheme for online sellers of knives.With measures in the Crime and Policing Bill 2025 we are increasing the penalties for illegal sales of knives, creating a new offence of possessing a knife with the intention to commit unlawful violence and are giving the police a new power to seize knives when they believe they are likely to be used in connection with unlawful violence.

What steps her Department is taking to support schools in Milton Keynes in delivering anti-violence education programmes.

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. Driving down youth-related violence across the UK, including in Milton Keynes, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.Through the Young Futures Programme, the Government will introduce Prevention Partnerships across the country, including in Thames Valley, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.As we design the Young Futures Programme, we will ensure that it learns from and builds on the work of the Violence Reduction Units (VRUs). VRUs bring together partners, including representatives from local education institutions and from the voluntary and community sector, to understand and tackle the drivers of serious violence in their area.In 2025/26 the Home Office is investing £1.5m in grant funding to Thames Valley VRU, alongside £280k to continue the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty.This funding will support delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, which includes continuation of a Focussed Deterrence intervention in Milton Keynes. This project will be targeted at young people who carry knives and providing them with tailored multi-agency support to desist from violence, alongside enforcement measures. Funding will also support the development and roll out of training for parents, schools and community groups in Thames Valley on the signs of criminal exploitation, in order that young people at risk are identified and supported.Alongside investment in local violence prevention approaches, we are also committed to removing weapons from our streets. Stop and search is a vital tool for tackling crime. Last year 16,066 stop and searches led to offensive weapons or firearms being found and taken off our streets.On 24 September 2024 we implemented the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes, and from 1 August 2025 it will also be illegal to sell or own ninja swords. We have announced “Ronan’s Law” a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives including strengthening age verification controls and checks through a two-stage age verification system at the point of purchase and on delivery, and we are also intending to consult later this year on a registration scheme for online sellers of knives.With measures in the Crime and Policing Bill 2025 we are increasing the penalties for illegal sales of knives, creating a new offence of possessing a knife with the intention to commit unlawful violence and are giving the police a new power to seize knives when they believe they are likely to be used in connection with unlawful violence.

What steps her Department is taking to support colleges in Milton Keynes to utilise new technologies to (a) tackle workload and (b) improve outcomes.

The department has promised to take up a new era in technology, to back our teachers and deliver better life chances for students across the country.We are investing millions of pounds in further evidence generation on the safe and effective use of EdTech in colleges. The Edtech Impact Testbed Pilot, announced at Education World Forum, aims to explore how technology can address significant challenges in the education sector. This pilot will test Edtech products and practices already in use in schools and colleges. The goal is to generate evidence of the impact on improving staff workload, pupil outcomes, and inclusivity. The expression of interest for this pilot will launch shortly on Citizen Space and colleges will be able to apply to get involved. The website where colleges can express their interest is available at: https://consult.education.gov.uk/.In addition, we plan to publish support materials for teachers and leaders to help them with the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI), so dedicated professionals working in education can spend more time doing what they do best and what they enjoy, face to face engagement with students.The department also provides funding for Jisc, who operate the UK’s ultra-fast national research and education network ‘Janet’, one of the most secure and powerful data networks in the world. This central funding allows colleges to connect on Janet and benefit from a good level of connectivity and cyber security, ensuring that the foundations for technology infrastructure are in place for colleges to be able to harness the opportunities that technology presents.

How many community pharmacies provide Pharmacy Contraception Services as of May 2025 in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

The most recent available data from January 2025 showed that there were 15 community pharmacies providing services in Buckingham and Bletchley. The contraception service is an additional service that contractors can choose to provide. The latest full set of data available shows that claims were submitted by 5,399 pharmacies for delivering this service, including five in Buckingham and Bletchley.