Written questions by Stafford.

Whether her Department has conducted a risk or opportunity assessment of the potential strategic use of seized Bitcoin assets as part of the UK's financial reserves.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, which sets out necessary steps for the management and realisation of assets, the seizure, recovery and management of Bitcoin assets is subject to consideration of independent law enforcement and the courts. There are no currently plans to amend the Act to divert seized coins to a centrally held fund or reserve.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of bank branch closures on older people’s access to cash.

The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules ensure cash continues to be a viable method of payment for the millions of people who depend on it and requires the reasonable provision of free cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal current accounts. The Government is also working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this parliament. These hubs will provide small businesses and individuals with critical access to cash. Over 180 Banking Hubs are already open across the UK. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly. Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment to LINK, the industry appointed coordinating body responsible for carrying out assessments. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing an Older People’s Commissioner for England.

The Department for Work and Pensions has not made an assessment on an Older People’s Commissioner. Our commitment to the pensions Triple Lock throughout this Parliament will see millions of pensioners receive up to £470 more this year added to their State Pension and our increased income threshold for Winter Fuel Payments of £35,000 a year will see over three quarters of pensioners in England and Wales receiving the payment later this Winter. DWP currently offers employment support for those older jobseekers affected by low confidence, menopause, health and disability or caring pressures, and out of date skills or qualifications. Through Midlife MOTs, delivered in Jobcentres across the UK, and online, we support older people to assess their health, finances and skills. The Government is reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new jobs and careers service that will enable everyone, including the over-50s, to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them progress in their careers. This includes an enhanced focus on skills and careers advice.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the licensing system for Section 2 shotguns on rural economies.

We will be undertaking a public consultation later this year on the greater alignment of the controls on shotguns with other firearms.The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February this year, included a commitment to having a consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns.We will carefully consider the views put forward to the consultation in due course and this includes the possible impact of any changes.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of amending the rules for the childcare vouchers scheme to allow participants to receive refunds, subject to the appropriate tax and National Insurance contributions, in instances where (a) exceptional and (b) unforeseen changes in circumstances have resulted in unused balances that can no longer be spent on eligible childcare, in the context of the covid-19 pandemic.

We appreciate the temporary closure of childcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic may have left parents unable to use some existing Government childcare offers, including Childcare Vouchers. Parents can seek to get a refund from their employer for their unused Childcare Vouchers. Whether particular employers offer refunds will depend on the contract between the Voucher provider, employee and employer, and is not within HMRC's control. Where a refund is not available the funds will remain in the nominated childcare account. As the Childcare Vouchers offer is now closed to new entrants and has been replaced by Tax-Free Childcare, the Government has no plans for reform.

Innovation and Technology, whether any third-party contractors have been engaged to assist with the monitoring of social media content.

Government follows a fair and open tender process towards all contracts. Information on contracts awarded by the department to third-party contractors is available on gov.uk.

What assessment she has made of the potential long-term fiscal merits of retaining the Bitcoins held by UK authorities in connection with investment fraud.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA), which sets out the necessary steps for the management and realisation of assets, the seizure, recovery and management of Bitcoin assets is subject to consideration of independent law enforcement and the courts.There are no current plans to amend the Act to divert seized coins to a centrally-held fund or reserve.I am unable to comment on any ongoing civil recovery investigations.

What steps she is taking to ensure that people impacted by (a) long-term health conditions and (b) disabilities are consulted during the review of changes to Personal Independence Payment.

I am committed to co-producing the review with disabled people, including those with long term health conditions and disabilities, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders, to ensure that a wide range of views and voices are heard.I have been engaging over the summer to consider the process for the work of the review and consider how it can best be co-produced to ensure that expertise from a range of different perspectives is drawn upon. I will share more details on this and how disabled people and other stakeholders will be involved in the review as plans progress.

Innovation and Technology, for what purposes government agencies monitor social media activity by members of the public; and whether there are limits on the scope of such monitoring.

Within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT) leads the department’s operational response to information risks to UK audiences within its ministerially defined remit which concerns public safety and national security. The NSOIT has compliance policies and procedures in place, in accordance with all applicable legislation, to ensure that individuals are not monitored and their rights are respected. Its privacy notices are available on GOV.UK.

Innovation and Technology, what his policy is on the (a) storage, (b) retention and (c) use of data collected from social media monitoring activities by (i) government departments and (ii) affiliated agencies.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology complies with UK data protection legislation, ensuring data is used fairly, and handled appropriately. That includes data collected from social media monitoring activities.For example, DSIT’s National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT) conducts targeted open-source analysis to identify and assess potential threats within its ministerially agreed remit of public safety and national security. NSOIT has a privacy notice which sets out how data will be stored, retained and used in the course of its work and this is available on gov.uk.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department’s fair funding review for local authorities on adult social care provision for people of working age.

The government is committed to transforming adult social care, including for people of working age, and making tangible improvements in the short-term. The Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion available for adult social care in 2028-29 compared to 2025-26. We have consulted on proposals, as part of ‘The Fair Funding Review 2.0’, to ensure adult social care funding reflects an up-to-date assessment of need, including updating the Adult Social Care Relative Needs Formula (ASC RNF) with the most recent data. The ‘Fair Funding Review 2.0’ proposals are a fundamental step to improving the sustainability of the sector and will allow councils to focus on service delivery and transformation. We are considering ‘The Fair Funding Review 2.0’ consultation responses; decisions are yet to be taken that will determine final allocations for local authorities overall. We will respond to the consultation in due course and will set out further details at the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of adult social care on supporting people of working age into the labour market.

Adult social care plays a vital role and directly supports people of working age to enter, remain in, or return to employment, and ultimately to maintain people’s independence. By ensuring individuals receive the right care in the right place at the right time, they are better able to contribute to society through employment, volunteering, or other forms of participation. To support working aged people into the labour market, earnings from employment are specifically disregarded from financial assessments, with further information available at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2672/regulation/14This is to ensure that working aged adults who are in employment are able to retain their earnings in full, and supplement their income, in addition to retaining the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) after being charged for their social care.The Government also recognises the importance of supporting unpaid carers. Access to appropriate support, such as respite care, is important to help carers maintain their own wellbeing and avoid burnout, which can otherwise lead to withdrawal from the workforce. To support this, we are committed to reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and examining the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Homes England’s management of the (a) Techforest and (b) Woolmead sites in Farnham and Bordon constituency.

Homes England has worked closely with East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) to support priorities for growth in Whitehill and Bordon for several years. This includes supporting the delivery of new employment sites in the area. Tech Forest has been identified as an employment site and, following consultation with EHDC, will be marketed for employment use. Homes England purchased Woolmead in Farnham via the Brownfield Infrastructure Land Fund, which has an extant planning permission for 138 new homes and over 4,000m² of commercial space. Homes England is considering options for the delivery of the site, including seeking a new planning consent, and remaining in contact with the market and prospective partners. In the meantime, Homes England continues to manage the site to ensure it remains safe, secure, and in a stable condition whilst longer-term plans for the site evolve.

Innovation and Technology, what oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that government monitoring of public social media content does not infringe upon freedom of expression and privacy rights.

Government firmly believes that people must be able to debate and discuss issues freely. The rights of citizens freedom of expression and access to journalism are essential to any functioning democracy.For example, the Department for Science Innovation & Technology’s National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT) analyses social media to identify and assess potential information threats to UK public safety and national security. The NSOIT’s commitment to protecting freedom of expression is embedded in its compliance policies and practices which are available on GOV.UK.

What information her Department holds on the (a) number and (b) nature of instances in which members of the public have been subject to monitoring by government agencies on social media platforms in the last 12 months.

It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational intelligence or security matters.

What discussions he has had with Baroness Casey on how sector stakeholders can engage with the commission on adult social care.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, engages with Baroness Louise Casey regularly on a number of issues, including adult social care.On 8 September, my Rt. Hon. Friend attended cross-party discussions, chaired by Baroness Casey, with representatives from political parties.Over the coming months, the commission will start a national conversation by inviting members of the public, people drawing on care and support, and organisations to submit evidence and to share their stories and ideas for improvement of the existing adult social care system. The commission will set out more details in due course.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of Enhertu for the treatment of (a) HER2-positive and (b) HER2-low breast cancer.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an evaluation of a treatment’s costs and benefits. These are very difficult decisions to make, and it is important that they are made independently and based on the available evidence. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE.NICE has been able to recommend Enhertu for treating HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer after one or more anti-HER2 treatments and for treating HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer after 2 or more anti-HER2 therapies. Enhertu is now available for NHS patients in line with NICE’s recommendations.On 29 July 2024, NICE published final guidance on Enhertu for use in the treatment of HER2-low metastatic breast cancer, and it was unable to recommend this life-extending treatment. The only obstacle to access for NHS patients to Enhertu is price, and my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, met the manufacturers of Enhertu, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo to encourage them to re-enter discussions with NHS England with a view to reaching a price at which NICE would be able to recommend Enhertu.However, despite NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibility, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. NICE’s guidance will therefore remain unchanged for the moment. However, NICE remains open to being as flexible as possible with commercial partners and are willing to enter into a new NICE appraisal if there is movement on pricing.

What steps he is taking to (a) help ensure that NHS skin cancer referrals are completed within the 14-day target and (b) address the backlog in Farnham and Bordon constituency.

The Department is supporting the National Health Service in taking steps to reduce the time taken from referral to diagnosis of cancer, including skin cancer.As a first step, NHS England published guidance for local health and care systems and providers across England to achieve the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) titled Implementing a timed skin cancer diagnostic pathway. The FDS pathway ensures patients receive a diagnosis of cancer, or rule out cancer, within 28 days of referral, as per the cancer waiting time standard.Since 2023/24, NHS England has been rolling out teledermatology services, which allow virtual reviews of dermoscopic images, to support achieving faster diagnosis. In providers where these have been fully implemented, improvements in workforce capacity have been seen, in some cases doubling the number of patients that can be reviewed per clinic, and improving FDS performance.Additionally, NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) national report has provided recommendations to encourage the wider use of technology to ensure skin cancer patients get faster and more equitable access to care.In July, a report was published by NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB), which covers services in Farham and Bordon constituency, providing an update on elective care and cancer backlogs across the ICB. The report included steps taken to address the backlog, which included:- the trust holding weekly meetings to review long waiters, cancer patients, validation and prioritisation;- the use of more technology to improve appointments;- supporting patients while they wait; and- opening a new community diagnostic centre.The report is available at the following link:https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s103417/Frimley%20ICB%20Elective%20and%20Cancer%20Backlogs.pdfFinally, the forthcoming National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of a pathway including from referral to diagnosis.

What assessment she has made of trends in the level of foreign nationals claiming Universal Credit.

The Department publishes Universal Credit (UC) immigration status and nationality statistics as part of the Universal Credit statistics publication. The latest release of these statistics is included in the latest Universal Credit statistical bulletin. ‘Table 2’ in the latest Universal Credit immigration status and nationality data tables provides information on the number of people on Universal Credit by immigration status, nationality group and employment status, for each month from April 2022 to June 2025.

For what reason chefs were removed from the Shortage Occupation List under the Skilled Worker visa route; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that decision on (a) small and (b) independent hospitality businesses.

As set out in the Immigration White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’, published on 12 May, this Government’s approach is to link migration policy and visa controls to skills and labour market policies, so that immigration is not used as an alternative to training or tackling workforce problems in the UK.Chefs were removed from the Shortage Occupation List upon the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) in their 2020 review under the previous government. In their 2023 review the MAC found that entry to the now defunct Shortage Occupation List would ‘contribute to downward pressure on wages in the occupation’.