Written questions by Campbell.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has funded the BBC Media Action charity in each of the last five years.

The BBC Media Action charity has not received funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in any of the last five years. Sources of funding for BBC Media Action can be found in their annual reports.

If he will make an estimate of future trends in the level of prostate cancer rates up to May 2028.

An increase in prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing in recent years has led to increased prostate cancer diagnoses. However, it is worth noting that the increase in diagnosis has not impacted upon mortality rates.We know that the best way to treat prostate cancer is by identifying it as early as possible. The Department is investing £16 million into the Prostate Cancer UK-led Transform screening trial, which seeks to find better ways to detect prostate cancer. This trial will compare the most promising tests that look for prostate cancer in men that do not have symptoms and aims to address disparities in detection rates across different groups. This will contribute to our further understanding of prostate cancer including its prevalence. The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including those living with prostate cancer.

Innovation and Technology, what outcomes there were through Innovate UK's Launchpad initiative in Northern Ireland in 2024.

Innovate UK has allocated up to £7.5 million for the Life and Health Sciences Launchpad in Northern Ireland. An initial allocation of funding was made to 14 business-led projects in April 2024. 18 additional projects targeting early-stage businesses in this cluster were funded in summer 2024. Competitions are currently in planning to allocate the remaining Launchpad funds.Innovate UK is evaluating the impact of all the Launchpads, including the one in Northern Ireland. It will publish interim findings from early 2027 via UKRI’s public website. A full impact evaluation will subsequently report from late 2028.

If he will publish the (a) guarantees, (b) insurance policies and (c) loans issued by UK Export Finance to businesses in Northern Ireland in 2024.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) produces audited details of businesses supported each financial year as part of its transparency protocols.Details of all UKEF support for businesses for 2023/24 and previous years can be found online at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-export-finance-business-supportedThe corresponding return of all businesses supported during financial year 2024/25 will be published in the summer.UKEF does not publish a breakdown by UK nations and regions.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Launchpad Initiative in Northern Ireland by Innovate UK on the life and health sciences sector.

Innovate UK Launchpads is an £80 million programme that builds on local innovation strengths to support emerging clusters of SMEs to deliver jobs, growth, and high productivity. For each Launchpad, Innovate UK invests up to £7.5 million for business-led innovation projects.The Northern Ireland Launchpad is dedicated to the advancement of healthcare solutions and medical breakthroughs. Innovate UK has appointed independent consultants to evaluate the impact of this and the other Launchpads and will publish interim findings from early 2027 via UKRI’s public website. A full impact evaluation will report from late 2028.

What services the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will have available at Post Offices between 2027 and 2029.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s current contract with Post Office Ltd expires on 31 March 2026, with an option to extend until 31 March 2027.  The DVLA is preparing to launch a procurement for a new contract for the service currently provided by Post Office. This contract which will begin when the current contract expires.  The requirements for this contract are currently being developed and the winning supplier will be determined in compliance with UK public procurement regulations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2024 to Question 18292 on Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands, what estimate she has made of additional tax revenue raised by freezing the (a) standard and (b) higher rate income tax thresholds (i) for each financial year and (ii) in total to 2029-30.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) routinely publish this information in their Economic and Fiscal Outlooks (EFO). The table below is extracted from the OBR’s most recent EFO, from October 2024 (Table 3.9, available here: https://obr.uk/economic-and-fiscal-outlooks/). This shows the per annum reduction in government borrowing arising from the freeze in both the Personal Allowance and the Higher Rate Threshold up to 2027-28. From 2023-24 to 2029-30, these measures raise a total of £207.9bn. £ billion Forecast 2023-242024-252025-262026-272027-282028-292029-30PA and HRT freezes-13.2-23.3-27.6-31.8-36.0-37.5-38.6 The current Government is committed to keeping taxes for working people as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so, at our first Budget, we decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds. As a result, they will rise with inflation from April 2028, meaning working people will keep more of their earnings.

What large transport infrastructure projects outside the South East she is considering.

Future funding for capital investment in transport will be determined as part of the spending review. This will be underpinned by a range of analysis, to ensure that the right investments are made in the right places. The Government remains committed to improving transport infrastructure across all parts of the United Kingdom, ensuring that benefits are felt at both a regional and national level. While transport is largely devolved to Northern Ireland, the Department for Transport is taking steps to improve links between Great Britain and Northern Ireland by funding Transport Scotland’s A75 feasibility study to explore options to bypass Springholm and Crocketford, supporting the Windsor Framework to streamline transport and customs processes, and through investment in green shipping corridors through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. The government is also subsidising flights between City of Derry Airport and London Heathrow Airport through a Public Service Obligation.

With reference to the Answer of 12 December 2023 to Question 5762 on World Economy, what recent discussions she has had with international partners on strengthening the international debt architecture.

The Government is committed to tackling unsustainable debt and the Chancellor has called for international partners to work together on this, including through enhancing debt transparency and promoting adoption of Climate Resilient Debt Clauses (CRDCs). HM Treasury continues to engage regularly with international partners, including the IMF, World Bank, borrower countries, other official creditors, private sector, and civil society organisations, on strengthening the international debt architecture. These discussions take place through various international fora, including the G7, G20, Paris Club and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable.

If he will list the support offered to businesses in Northern Ireland by UK Export Finance in 2024.

UKEF offers its full range of products and services to exporters across the UK, including Northern Ireland. Full details of the UKEF’s product and support offering can be found online at: www.ukexportfinance.gov.uk/products-and-services/. UKEF also has a network of Export Finance Managers across the UK who are valuable points of contact for local businesses and can provide information on the range of support available. Contact details for the EFMs can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/find-an-export-finance-manager.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership on each (a) nation and (b) region of the UK.

The UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is expected to support jobs and create opportunities for business growth in every part of the UK. An impact assessment was published regarding the UK's accession to CPTPP and the potential long-run economic impact of the agreement. The analysis detailed the prospective impacts on all the UK’s regions and nations and demonstrated that UK GDP could increase by £2.0 billion every year in the long run.

When she plans to publish the next National Road Traffic Projections.

The National Road Traffic Projections were last published in December 2022. The Department regularly reviews evidence and data on the drivers of travel demand and will publish an update in due course.

What estimate she has made of how many hotels will be required as temporary accommodation for people seeking asylum in Northern Ireland by the end of 2025.

This Government inherited an asylum system under exceptional strain. We took immediate action to resolve that chaos by restarting asylum processing, establishing the new Border Security Command to tackle the people-smuggling gangs, cracking down on illegal working across the country, and increasing the return and removal of people with no right to be here.Since the General Election, there has been a net increase of six hotels in use across the UK; however, ten are scheduled for closure by the end of March 2025. It remains our absolute commitment to end the use of hotels over time, as part of our reduction in overall asylum accommodation costs. In the interim, we are also continuing to increase our operational activity against smuggling gangs and illegal working, and we have increased returns to their highest level since 2018, with 16,400 people removed in the first six months this government was in office. Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab). In terms of the accommodation of asylum seekers in Northern Ireland, it remains the case that only those claiming asylum in Northern Ireland are accommodated there.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question 5537 on Bowel Cancer: Screening, whether he expects bowel screening for 50 year-olds to be completed by (a) autumn or (b) winter 2025.

The National Health Service in England has been gradually reducing the age for bowel screening from 60 years old down to 50 years old, since 2021/22. The extension to 50 years old is expected to be completed by 31 March 2025.

If he will ensure that discussions on the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention include trade between mainland Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

We are always looking at ways to reduce barriers to trade - within our clear red lines - because having a smooth trading relationship with European partners is essential to driving growth at home.This is one of those options we are open to looking at to reduce barriers, and it’s right and responsible that we are looking at it to determine what is in the national interest of the whole of the UK. But we do not currently have any plans to join the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention.

What steps he is taking to retain (a) doctors and (b) other health professionals, in the context of the abolition of the lifetime allowance on pension savings.

The abolition of the lifetime allowance for tax-free pension saving incentivises senior doctors and other health professionals to continue their National Health Service work. Following extensive engagement with staff, the 10 Year Plan will set out a wide-ranging programme to improve staff retention, including for doctors. Alongside this, NHS England is leading targeted retention work through their NHS Retention Programme. This programme, coupled with the NHS People Promise, aims to improve the support that employers offer to their staff and build a more resilient and supportive workplace culture. It includes initiatives focussed on creating a flexible work environment, addresses career development opportunities, and seeks to enhance staff wellbeing. These elements are crucial in reducing attrition.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the conditions that Jimmy Lai is being held by Chinese authorities.

Jimmy Lai's case is a priority for the Government. We continue to press for consular access, which the Hong Kong Prison Authorities have refused. The Government takes all allegations of mistreatment very seriously and will follow up with action appropriate to the circumstances of the case. The Government has consistently raised our concerns around Mr Lai's case with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities: for example, the Prime Minister raised his case with President Xi in November, and I raised Mr Lai's case in my meetings during my November visit to Hong Kong.

How many meetings of Intertrade UK he plans to attend in 2025.

Intertrade UK will serve as a non-statutory advisory body that supports the East-West Council (EWC) in promoting all internal UK trade. We will be providing further details on the membership of the group and how the work of the group will be taken forward in due course.

If she will make an assessment of trends in the level of consumer credit debt relating to car purchases in the last five years.

The Government regularly engages with the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to monitor personal finances and debt levels. According to the FCA, 2 million cars were bought on finance in the 12 months to October 2024, with a total of £38.7 billion being borrowed. HMT does not hold data for the last 5 years.

Media and Sport, what changes she plans to make to the support her Department offers for cultural activities involving children and young people by the end of this Parliament.

This government recognises the importance of access to cultural activities for children and young people. In summer, we will publish an ambitious new National Youth Strategy, co-produced with young people and the sector.In 2025/26, DCMS Programmes will create thousands of opportunities for young people to access enriching activities, including in the culture sector. In addition, 79% of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations are delivering activity for children and young peopleDCMS also supports the Department for Education’s expert-led, independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, launched in July last year, which seeks to deliver a broader curriculum so that children and young people do not miss out on subjects such as music, the arts and drama.