Written questions by Smith.

Innovation and Technology, what his planned timeframe is for the (a) delivery and (b) start of the Shared Rural Network.

The Shared Rural Network began in March 2020 and has already achieved its main target, extending 4G mobile coverage to over 95% of UK landmass, which was achieved a year ahead of its December 2025 target and verified by Ofcom in May 2025. The programme has also met its targets to improve mobile coverage for an extra 280,000 premises and 16,000km of roads. However, there are still rural parts of the UK where there is either limited or no mobile coverage, and we will continue to work with the industry to deliver new coverage to these rural communities until the programme is due to complete in January 2027.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the current NICE QALY threshold on (a) patient access to innovative medicines and (b) the UK’s competitiveness in attracting life sciences investment.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. NICE is able to recommend most new medicines for use by the NHS, with a 91% approval rate for completed appraisals in the last 12 months.As committed to in our Life Sciences Sector Plan, we will work with industry to accelerate growth in the net spend on innovative medicines over the course of this plan compared with the previous ten years, particularly for those medicines that help keep people out of hospital. Together, this will help ensure that by 2030, the United Kingdom will be one of the top three fastest places in Europe for patient access to medicines. The Life Sciences Sector Plan also committed to faster patient access to medicines and reduced industry costs, while ensuring good value for the NHS. A Growth Mandate on NHS commercial activity will drive focus on activity which is growth-maximising and will ensure that promoting innovation is seen as an institutional objective alongside achieving value for money. A new, proportionate approach to NICE appraisals and indication-specific pricing will streamline access for multi-indication medicines with strong outcomes and low affordability risk. These commitments will create a more agile, predictable commercial environment that supports investment into the UK.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the medicines budget supports (a) access to innovative treatments and (b) attracts global pharmaceutical investment.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. NICE is able to recommend most new medicines for use by the NHS, with a 91% approval rate for completed appraisals in the last 12 months.As committed to in our Life Sciences Sector Plan, we will work with industry to accelerate growth in the net spend on innovative medicines over the course of this plan compared with the previous ten years, particularly for those medicines that help keep people out of hospital. Together, this will help ensure that by 2030, the United Kingdom will be one of the top three fastest places in Europe for patient access to medicines. The Life Sciences Sector Plan also committed to faster patient access to medicines and reduced industry costs, while ensuring good value for the NHS. A Growth Mandate on NHS commercial activity will drive focus on activity which is growth-maximising and will ensure that promoting innovation is seen as an institutional objective alongside achieving value for money. A new, proportionate approach to NICE appraisals and indication-specific pricing will streamline access for multi-indication medicines with strong outcomes and low affordability risk. These commitments will create a more agile, predictable commercial environment that supports investment into the UK.

When the Government plans to update UK Infection Prevention and Control guidance to reflect the scientific consensus that (a) covid-19 and (b) other respiratory pathogens are airborne; and what steps he is taking to ensure enforceable indoor air quality standards in healthcare settings.

The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) for England, published by NHS England, whilst not pathogen specific, provides overarching infection prevention and control principles that should be used to inform clinical judgement/practice. The NIPCM for England is regularly updated in response to changing epidemiology, or scientific evidence, feedback from frontline healthcare staff, and system need.UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advice on the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus notes that SARS-CoV-2 is primarily transmitted between individuals through infectious respiratory particles, droplet and aerosol, with transmission risk being highest when in close proximity to an infectious individual, particularly within two metres. Being in poorly ventilated indoor spaces, particularly for an extended period of time, also increases the risk of becoming infected. Further information on UKHSA advice is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-background-information/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-epidemiology-virology-and-clinical-featuresPublished guidance on ventilation in healthcare settings includes the Health Technical Memorandum 03-01: Specialised ventilation for healthcare premises, the NHS Estates Technical Bulletin (NETB 2023/01A): application of HEPA filter devices for air cleaning in healthcare spaces: guidance and standards, and the NHS Estates Technical Bulletin (NETB 2023/01B): application of ultraviolet (UVC) devices for air cleaning in occupied healthcare spaces: guidance and standards, with further information on all three documents available, respectively, at the following three links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-ventilation-for-healthcare-buildings/https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/application-of-hepa-filter-devices-for-air-cleaning-in-healthcare-spaces-guidance-and-standards/https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/application-of-ultraviolet-uvc-devices-for-air-cleaning-in-occupied-healthcare-spaces-guidance-and-standards/

Whether her Department has set a timeframe for the completion of research to (a) update and (b) strengthen the evidence base on the (i) extent and (ii) impact of pavement parking.

The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible. The new research announced last week will not delay this; my officials are finalising its terms now. Findings will be published within 12 weeks of agreeing final outputs, per Government Social Research protocols.

Whether her Department plans to release the representative sample of local authorities it plans to consult on pavement parking research.

The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible. The new research announced last week will not delay this; my officials are finalising its terms now. Findings will be published within 12 weeks of agreeing final outputs, per Government Social Research protocols.

What estimate her Department has made of the (a) staffing, (b) system, (c) compliance and (d) other costs of (i) implementing and (ii) administering the proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief; and if she will take steps to publish an estimate prior to the reforms taking effect in April 2026.

I refer to the answer given on 5 September 2025 at UIN 70546 :https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-08-29/70546

How many firearms enquiry officers are employed across police forces in England and Wales.

The Government does not currently collect data regarding the staffing of firearms licensing departments in police forces. The level of staffing and use of warranted police officers in such departments is a matter for individual Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners.

How many and what proportion of the firearms enquiry officers employed across police forces in England and Wales are warranted police officers.

The Government does not currently collect data regarding the staffing of firearms licensing departments in police forces. The level of staffing and use of warranted police officers in such departments is a matter for individual Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of hares shot during the period when sale is prohibited under the Hares Preservation Act 1892 in the latest period for which data is available.

Defra holds no official statistics on the number of hares shot in England. The Act aims to protect hares by prohibiting the sale of hares in England from March to July inclusive.

What steps she is taking to tackle expressions of support for (a) Hamas and (b) Hezbollah at universities.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer that I gave to the Rt Hon Member for Fareham and Waterlooville on 7 May in response to Question 48984.

Whether she plans to hold discussions with Vice Chancellors on the effectiveness of disciplinary procedures in tackling antisemitism at universities.

Last month, my right hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, brought together Vice Chancellors and community leaders to hear testimonials from Jewish students and to discuss next steps to ensure safer, more inclusive campuses for all. This included productive discussion of how students’ confidence in the disciplinary processes could be improved, while ensuring that confidentiality requirements continue to be met.The department remains deeply committed to working with universities, sector partners and stakeholder groups to effectively tackle the unacceptably high level of antisemitism on our campuses.

With reference to her Oral Statement of 19 May 2025 on National Security Act 2023: Charges, Official Report, columns 759-771, when she will take legislative steps to allow proscription of (a) the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and (b) other state threats.

The Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under constant review, as we seek to protect the UK from the threats that we face. However, as a matter of longstanding policy we do not comment on whether or not an organisation is being considered for proscription.The UK has a strong record of responding robustly to state threats, including through implementation of the National Security Act 2023, which makes the UK a harder target for those states which seek to conduct hostile acts. In March, we announced that the whole of the Iranian state - including the IRGC and MOIS - will be placed on the Enhanced Tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme which will go live on 1 July.As the Home Secretary set out in her Oral Statement on 19 May 2025, we are committed to taking forward Jonathan Hall KC’s recommendations in his review of State Threats legislation, including the creation of a new State Threats Proscription-like Tool. We will bring forward legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

What recent discussions she has had with the Chair of the Independent Review of the Loan Charge on the progress of that review.

Ministers have not held discussions with the independent reviewer of the Loan Charge since the review was launched. However, the review team has confirmed that they expect to conclude in the summer, and the government will respond to their report by Autumn Budget 2025.

Whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to help increase prosecutions of cyclists who jump red traffic lights.

Enforcement of traffic offences of this sort is a matter for the police. Those who cycle have a duty, like all road users, to behave in a safe and responsible manner and to follow the rules set out in The Highway Code. It is already an offence for cyclists to cycle without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the ecological vulnerability of chalk stream habitats; and whether his Department plans to develop a national strategy for their (a) protection and (b) restoration.

Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams is a top government priority. That is why on 23 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works. Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution and physical modifications of habitats. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our overall programme of reforms for the water sector. Alongside this, we are continuing to direct investment to projects that will improve chalk streams. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), over 1000 improvement projects are planned within chalk stream catchments between 2024-2029.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the planning system within the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on irreplaceable habitats.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists. The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) provides an alternative mechanism for development to discharge environmental obligations relating specifically to the Habitats and Species Regulations, the Wildlife and Countryside Act, and the Protection of Badgers Act. It does not apply to irreplaceable habitats generally, for which the strong protections in the National Planning Policy Framework will continue to apply.

Whether she plans to hold discussions with university vice-chancellors in relation to the report by StandWithUs UK entitled Voice of Students 2024-25, published on 7 May 2025.

This government condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms and we are actively taking steps to prevent and tackle it on campus, as in all parts of society. The antisemitic incidents detailed in StandWithUs UK’s report are wholly unacceptable and the wellbeing and safety of our Jewish students remains a priority.Universities have a duty to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law, but the department has been clear that this does not extend to unlawful hate speech or incitement of hatred against any individual or group.It is important to recognise the efforts that university Vice Chancellors and their staff are making to foster cohesion on campuses across the country. However, as the StandWithUs UK report highlights, there is still more for us to do. That is why my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education is hosting a roundtable on antisemitism to which she has invited several leading Vice Chancellors, many whose students and universities are featured in StandWithUs UK’s testimonials, including Professor Andrew Jones, Vice Chancellor of Brunel, University of London. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.

With reference pages 19-20 of StandWithUs' report entitled StandWithUs UK Report: Voice of Students 2024/25 Report, published in May 2025, if she will have discussions with the Vice Chancellor of Brunel University of London on (a) reported comments made to a Jewish student at that University and (b) that University's subsequent actions in response.

This government condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms and we are actively taking steps to prevent and tackle it on campus, as in all parts of society. The antisemitic incidents detailed in StandWithUs UK’s report are wholly unacceptable and the wellbeing and safety of our Jewish students remains a priority.Universities have a duty to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law, but the department has been clear that this does not extend to unlawful hate speech or incitement of hatred against any individual or group.It is important to recognise the efforts that university Vice Chancellors and their staff are making to foster cohesion on campuses across the country. However, as the StandWithUs UK report highlights, there is still more for us to do. That is why my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education is hosting a roundtable on antisemitism to which she has invited several leading Vice Chancellors, many whose students and universities are featured in StandWithUs UK’s testimonials, including Professor Andrew Jones, Vice Chancellor of Brunel, University of London. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the governance arrangements of the National Foundation for Educational Research.

The National Foundation for Educational Research is a leading provider of research and assessments in the UK. The department has no formal oversight or management relationship with them, and as such, has not made an assessment of the adequacy of their governance arrangements.