Written questions by Bloore.

How many bus routes were closed in Worcestershire between 2010 and 2024.

The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain only publish data on a Traffic Area wide basis. The West Midlands Traffic Area includes the West Midlands conurbation, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire. Between 2009-10 and 2023-24, the Traffic Commissioners recorded that 3,992 existing registrations in the West Midlands traffic area were cancelled. An existing registration being cancelled does not always mean a bus route was closed. For example, a registration could have been cancelled and replaced with another registration that covers much of the same route, or the route continues to be served by different operator. It should also be noted that prior to 2019-20 the total number of live local bus service registrations included an element of double-counting as services running across multiple local authority areas were recorded multiple times, e.g. a service running between the West Midlands and Staffordshire was presented as two services when it should have been counted as a single service. This has now been rectified.

Media and Sport, whether the Football Governance Code will stipulate requirements for independent directors to be included in a club's governance structure.

It will be the responsibility of the Independent Football Regulator to determine the key elements of the Football Governance Code, including whether independent directors should be included. This will be done in consultation with the FA and other stakeholders with an interest in safeguarding the long-term future of our national game.We recognise that independent directors can greatly improve decision-making and independent scrutiny on corporate governance, however, it will be for the Regulator to determine whether independent directors are included in scope of the Football Governance Code.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of a variable rate of deposit for the Deposit Return Scheme.

The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) regulations provide the powers for the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) - who will be appointed by Government to administer the DRS. The regulations also set out what the DMO must consider and who they must consult in determining the deposit level, including whether a fixed or variable rate deposit is appropriate and, when doing so, have regard to the views expressed in responses to the consultation.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the benefits of introducing statutory recycling targets for local authorities.

The Government is committed to reducing waste by transitioning to a circular economy. To support the Government in achieving this goal, a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts has been established from across the Government, industry, academia, and civil society to help us develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The taskforce will consider the evidence for sector-specific interventions from right across the economy and will be exploring a wide range of levers to drive circularity. Local Authorities are best placed to determine the effective delivery of local services. We want to provide the framework in which they do this and ensure that there is consistency in what is collected.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the contribution of football clubs to local economies.

Football clubs deliver significant economic benefits to their local economies. Analysis from 2024 showed that the Premier League and its clubs alone support over 90,000 jobs. Football clubs also deliver indirect economic benefits to the local communities they serve, attracting visitors, and bringing increased footfall to the hospitality, retail, and transport sectors.The influence of clubs also extends beyond football, fostering economic growth, social cohesion, and a strong sense of local identity. Clubs often engage in community initiatives, and contribute to civic identity and pride in place. For example, Club Community Organisations in the English Football League (EFL) contribute £63 million to community and social projects each year, and The Premier League Charitable Fund has a three-year budget of around £100 million to support community organisations.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to tackle stalking.

This Government is serious about tackling stalking, as part of our ambition to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade.For over seven years there have been yearly increases in the number of stalking offences which received a first hearing in the magistrates' courts. In 2018/19, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recorded 2,208 cases, and in 2023/24 these had more than doubled to 5,859.In November 2024, the CPS and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan which prioritises improving the recognition and identification of behaviour driven offending including stalking. This applies to domestic and non-domestic forms of this crime.Since publication, work has already commenced to develop a shared definition of high-harm, high-risk repeat offending and to update the police and CPS joint protocol on the appropriate handling of stalking offences. Informed by operational insights from police and stalking leads in the CPS, this work will ensure police and prosecutors are better equipped to recognise and handle stalking and identify the offenders who pose the greatest threat.Protective orders are an important tool in safeguarding victims of stalking. On 22 January, the CPS updated its prosecution guidance on stalking or harassment emphasising that prosecutors must consider breaches of orders within the wider context of offending and, where new offences are present, that they are charged in addition to breaches. This Government has also committed to extend the reach of Stalking Protection Orders so they can be applied for on acquittal, as well as on conviction.

If he will take steps to extend independent prescribing responsibilities to Occupational Therapists under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act (2021) where it is safe to do so.

Appropriately trained occupational therapists can already supply/administer medicines under a Patient Specific Direction (PSD) or a Patient Group Direction (PGD). A PSD is a written instruction from a prescriber for medicines to be supplied or administered to a specific patient or person. PGDs are a set of instructions which allow healthcare professionals to supply and administer specific medicines to pre-defined groups of patients without the need for them to be referred to a prescriber.There is a process in place for making changes to prescribing responsibilities to ensure those changes are safe and beneficial for patients.In late 2020, NHS England launched a series of public consultations seeking views on proposals to amend responsibilities for the prescribing, supply and/or administration of medicines for specific healthcare professionals.The Department is working with NHS England to consider these consultations and other requests to progress the extension of responsibilities to supply, administer or prescribe medicines under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to regulated healthcare professionals, where a clear need and benefits have been identified.

Communities and Local Government, how many council houses were built in the West Midlands between 2010 and 2024.

Data on new affordable housing delivery by provider and region, including West Midlands, broken down by new build and acquisitions is available on gov.uk here. The number of new affordable housing delivered without provider information (unknown provider) was higher prior to 2014-15 than it is currently. As such, breakdowns by provider, including the delivery by local authorities, should be interpreted with care prior to 2014-15.

Whether he plans to review the safety measures and responsibilities of local authorities on water crossings.

Under the Highways Act 1980, local highway authorities are responsible for the maintenance and safety of the highway network in their area, which may include bridges, fords and other types of river crossing. The Act does not set out specific standards of safety or maintenance for these assets. It is for each individual local highway authority to assess which parts of its network need repair and what standards should be applied, based upon their local knowledge and circumstances, and the Government has no plans to change this. The Department does, however, plan to update its guidance to local highway authorities on the management of their highway networks. As part of this it will consider whether more guidance is needed on the management of river crossings.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of commissioning a review into event booking fees.

On 10 January, the Government launched a call for evidence on pricing practices in the live events sector, which closes on 4 April 2025.It is important that consumers experience openness and transparency when buying tickets. We are seeking evidence on the impact of current pricing practices on consumers and businesses and whether the current legal framework provides sufficient protection. We encourage responses, including on issues such as booking fees.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the affordability of prescriptions on people with long-term conditions.

Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England. There are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place, for which those with long-term conditions may be eligible, to support the affordability of prescriptions. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three month and 12-month certificates available, and PPCs can be paid for in 10 direct debit instalments.

What steps he is taking to promote the use of Prescription Prepayment Certificates.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) promotes prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) as part of a wider communications plan for all of the Help with Health Costs services that it delivers. The NHS BSA and the National Health Service use social media, online resources, media releases, and healthcare bulletins to promote the PPC to professionals and patients, to ensure both groups are aware of their availability.

Whether she plans to review the list price at which motorists are required to pay additional car tax.

The Expensive Car Supplement is an additional VED charge for new cars with a list price of £40,000 or more, which is payable in year 2 – 6 of a car’s lifecycle. As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the government recognises the disproportionate impact of the current VED Expensive Car Supplement threshold for those purchasing zero emission cars and will consider raising the threshold for zero emission cars only at a future fiscal event, to make it easier to buy electric cars.

What steps he is taking to improve health outcomes for survivors of acquired brain injuries.

The Government wants a society where every person, including those with a long-term condition such as an acquired brain injury (ABI), receives high-quality, compassionate continuity of care, with their families and carers supported.We will change the National Health Service so that it becomes not just a sickness service, but able to prevent ill health in the first place. This will help us be better prepared for the change in nature of disease and allow our services to focus more on the management of chronic, long-term conditions, like ABI, including rehabilitation where appropriate.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently developing guidance ‘Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury’, which is expected to be published on 16 July 2025. More information is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10181I met the original proponent of the ABI strategy, my Hon. Friend, Sir Chris Bryant MP, on 27 November 2024 to discuss ABI and we had a very fruitful discussion about what might be achievable in the both the short term and the longer term. Sir Chris remains a huge advocate for those that have suffered an ABI and I fully agree with him that the Government should, and importantly will, do more, including showcasing those areas that have effectively integrated post-hospital care and support, including rehabilitation, to other areas where patients are not getting the care and support they deserve.A decision on next steps on ABI at the national level will be taken in due course.Meanwhile, we have committed to develop a 10-year plan to deliver an NHS fit for the future. We will be carefully considering input from the public, patients, health staff, and our stakeholders as we develop the plan over the coming months. The engagement process has been launched and I would encourage stakeholders to engage with that process to allow us to fully understand what is not working as well as it should and what the potential solutions are, including on ABI. More information is available at the following link:https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/

What his Department's timetable is for the commencement of dentist contract renegotiations.

To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to National Health Service dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.There are no perfect payment systems and careful consideration needs to be given to any potential changes to the complex dental system so that we deliver a system better for patients and the profession. We continue to meet the British Dental Association and other representatives of the dental sector to discuss how we can best deliver our shared ambition to improve access for NHS dental patients.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to incentivise the building of television and film studios in the (a) regions and (b) West Midlands.

We are already incentivising film and TV production in the UK, with UK-wide funding programmes, infrastructure investment, competitive tax reliefs and direct support for independent British content.The British Film Commission (BFC) is supporting the growt...

What recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the standard of writing in (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) universities since 2015.

High and rising school standards are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best life chances. The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review which will seek ...

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of Getting It Right First Time's guidance entitled Heavy Menstrual Bleeding, published in October 2021; and whether he pl

The Getting It Right First Time’s (GIRFT) 2021 report into maternity and gynaecology identified a key barrier in treating heavy menstrual bleeding as the commissioning arrangements for contraceptive and sexual health services. The report recommended the l...

Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with (a) civil society and (b) animal protection organisations on ending animal testing.

The Government is committed to supporting the use of alternative methods to the use of animals in science and the Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal ...

If she will take steps to abolish all Child Maintenance Service for parents with care who are victim-survivors of domestic abuse.

The Department has recently concluded a public consultation on policy changes. This included proposals to remove the Direct Pay service (where parents pay each other directly) and managing all CMS cases in one service to allow the CMS to tackle non-compli...