Written questions by Maguire.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking with UN counterparts to help reduce child casualties from explosive weapons.

Earlier this month, the UK participated in the Second International Conference of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA), and officials emphasised the particular importance of protecting children from both direct and indirect impacts of those weapons. The UK is also a member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict and plays a key role in ensuring scrutiny of conflicts where children are harmed and holding perpetrators to account.

What discussions he has had with international counterparts on levels of civilian harm caused by military practice in international conflicts.

Protection of civilians is directed through Joint Service Publication (JSP) 985, Human Security in Defence. It is at the heart of Defence’s human-centric approach to operations and is reflected in all relevant policies and operating procedures. The department engages regularly with international colleagues regarding this topic, including at ministerial level.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of Queen Elizabeth’s foundation for Disabled People on bed blockages in the NHS.

The Government recognises the concerns of those who have benefitted from the support of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People. We are committed to ensuring that disabled people have equitable, effective, and responsive access to health and care services that meet their needs.Adult social care services are provided through a largely outsourced market of commercial organisations and charities. Ensuring good management of the market and securing continuity of care in the event of market exit due to business failure is the responsibility of local authorities.Health and care systems and providers should work together to ensure that efforts to discharge individuals from hospital into social care are joined up and make best use of available resources, in line with the duty to cooperate set out in Section 82 of the NHS Act 2006.Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a temporary duty to ensure that individuals continue to receive the services they need, including National Health Service patients receiving adult social care, if their care provider is no longer able to deliver those services. The Care Act Statutory Guidance provides guidance on managing provider failure and other service interruptions.

What support his Department is providing to (a) patients and (b) their families who have to relocate following the closure of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People.

The Government recognises the concerns of those who have benefitted from the support of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People. We are committed to ensuring that disabled people have equitable, effective, and responsive access to health and care services that meet their needs.Adult social care services are provided through a largely outsourced market of commercial organisations and charities. Ensuring good management of the market and securing continuity of care in the event of market exit due to business failure is the responsibility of local authorities.Health and care systems and providers should work together to ensure that efforts to discharge individuals from hospital into social care are joined up and make best use of available resources, in line with the duty to cooperate set out in Section 82 of the NHS Act 2006.Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a temporary duty to ensure that individuals continue to receive the services they need, including National Health Service patients receiving adult social care, if their care provider is no longer able to deliver those services. The Care Act Statutory Guidance provides guidance on managing provider failure and other service interruptions.

Where NHS patients receiving care at the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People will now be treated.

The Government recognises the concerns of those who have benefitted from the support of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People. We are committed to ensuring that disabled people have equitable, effective, and responsive access to health and care services that meet their needs.Adult social care services are provided through a largely outsourced market of commercial organisations and charities. Ensuring good management of the market and securing continuity of care in the event of market exit due to business failure is the responsibility of local authorities.Health and care systems and providers should work together to ensure that efforts to discharge individuals from hospital into social care are joined up and make best use of available resources, in line with the duty to cooperate set out in Section 82 of the NHS Act 2006.Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a temporary duty to ensure that individuals continue to receive the services they need, including National Health Service patients receiving adult social care, if their care provider is no longer able to deliver those services. The Care Act Statutory Guidance provides guidance on managing provider failure and other service interruptions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the current Noise Regulations in protecting (a) animals, (b) veterans and (c) other vulnerable people from harm.

Protections are in place to avoid significant noise impacts through our planning system, environmental permitting regulations, vehicle and product standards, and noise abatement legislation.

How much funding his Department is providing for strategic national space capabilities in each of the next three years.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to developing the Defence Space Portfolio and wider space requirements to harness space for national and military advantage. The recent publication of the Strategic Defence Review served to reinforce the importance of the space domain and the need to invest appropriately. The level of investment will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the Defence Investment Plan to be published this year.

What steps her Department is planning to take to support disabled people in accessing driving (a) lessons and (b) tests in the South East in the context of the closure of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is committed to ensuring customers requiring support are always treated without discrimination.Whilst there is no requirement for people to disclose a disability to DVSA, to ensure that every customer is treated fairly, DVSA encourages disclosure so that reasonable adjustments can be made, as needed, at both the theory test and practical driving test.DVSA will consider and accommodate, where possible, a customer’s reasonable request for support. Depending on their requirements, evidence might be required for DVSA to assess the request thoroughly and ensure all appropriate measures are taken to provide the assistance necessary.Approved driving instructors are not directly employed by DVSA, so the agency has no control or input on what ADIs choose to teach or what they charge for their services.DVSA has previously worked with the Disabled Driving Instructors Association to assist learner drivers who are looking for ADIs who can accommodate disabilities and additional needs. Further information is available at: www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com/find-an-instructor.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled Peoples on wheelchair provision for children aged under six.

This assessment has not been made. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of local wheelchair services, based on the needs of their local population.NHS England has developed policy, guidance, and legislation to support ICBs to commission effective, efficient, and personalised wheelchair services. On 9 April 2025, NHS England published the Wheelchair Quality Framework which is designed to assist ICBs and National Health Service wheelchair service providers in delivering high-quality provision that offers improved access, outcomes, and experience.

Whether his Department plans to seek participation in future EU space projects.

The Strategic Defence Review identifies space as a critical domain for national security and Defence, emphasising the importance of international collaboration to achieve the United Kingdom's (UK) defence space aspirations. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to exploring opportunities for cooperation in space that align with Defence and security commitments, working closely with cross-government partners to ensure coherence with broader UK interests and priorities. The MOD assesses participation in specific space projects on a case-by-case basis. Any decision to participate in EU space projects will be made considering strategic benefits, value for money, and alignment with national security objectives.

With reference to the forthcoming closure of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People, what steps her Department is taking to ensure (a) disabled people still feel supported in travelling by air and (b) the aviation sector can access information to assist disabled passengers.

The Department for Transport is working closely with the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People and other government departments to ensure disabled people can continue to access the mobility services they need. Aviation must be accessible for all. UK law entitles passengers to assistance from airports and airlines to help them to travel by air, with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ensuring compliance. To strengthen support and improve aviation accessibility, the Department established the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group, which published an independent report in July 2025. The report set out 19 recommendations across five key areas: training, passenger information and communications, mobility aid design and handling, non-visible impairments and tailored support. The Group is now focused on helping the industry implement these recommendations and will report annually to the Department on progress.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that all assistant dog handlers are treated consistently by (a) employers and (b) service providers regardless of how their dog was trained.

Assistance dogs are not funded or provided by the Government, and assistance dogs are not regulated or defined in law.There are well established dog training organisations which have international accreditation and are members of the umbrella coalition Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK). Following a Government initiative in 2017/18, a new charity was established - the Assistance Dogs Assessment Association (ADAA) - which offers a test and certificate for assistance dogs trained through sources without international accreditation. It is now possible for assistance dogs to be tested and certified as having reached a set standard, even where they are trained by a body without international accreditation.The Equality Act 2010 places a general duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled people, including people with assistance dogs, access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. Duties and protections under the Equality Act are ultimately enforceable through the courts, and anybody who thinks that they have been discriminated against - including where access to an assistance dog has been refused - can take legal action to seek to resolve the issue.The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act, and has published guidance on ‘Assistance Dogs: a guide for businesses and service providers’.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing measures to stop the underage sale of fireworks online.

No assessment has been made of the merits of increasing measures to stop underage sale of fireworks online. There are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally, or misused. Sales offences in Great Britain are enforced by Local Authority Trading Standards, and the penalty for retailers who sell to children is a fine and/or three months in prison.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking with his international counterparts to encourage sustainable uses of space.

The government works bilaterally and multilaterally with international partners through the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee to shape and uphold standards, norms and best practices that define the in-orbit regime. We champion adoption of the UN Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines and support capacity-building via the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs to protect access to space for future generations.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of giving local authorities the power to create firework-free zones.

No assessment has been made of the potential the merits of giving local authority the powers to create fireworks control zones. Building on the work of my predecessor, I will continue to engage with counterparts in Scotland to understand the impact Firework Control Zones have made before considering if similar changes are needed for England and Wales. The Government launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season. The campaign includes guidance for those running community events, which encourages the use of low-noise fireworks and social media posts that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks.

What support is available for staff being made redundant by the closure of the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People.

Following notification of staff being at risk of redundancy DWP provides support to both employers and individuals through our dedicated service (the Rapid Redundancy Support). Local Employer Advisors will make contact the employers/or individuals to offer support as a matter of urgency. Support is tailored and can vary depending on the scale of the redundancy and the level of support required. This can include:Group Information sessions or 121 sessions with individualsProviding information on the local labour marketIndividual Job Search SupportLocal Skills and Training support for specific sectorsSupport with CVs and ApplicationsInformation on Support for those with Health Conditions and DisabilitiesInformation on Universal Credit and Pensions DWP were notified by the Insolvency Service on the 18th of November of impending redundancies at the Queen Elizabeth Foundation for Disabled People. DWP’s National RRS Team held a meeting with the Chief Executive on the 19th of November where RRS support was outlined. RRS factsheets were sent over for cascade to employees impacted and the National RRS team agreed to contact local jobcentres. Queen Elizabeth Foundation requested DWP support at several recruitment events previously organised at sites in Leatherhead and Carshalton. On the 27th November at the Leatherhead site, the local Employer Adviser and Disability Employer Adviser attended a recruitment event and offered further support for those impacted by the redundancies. The attendance of the Disability Employer Adviser was at the specific request of the Queen Elizabeth Foundation At the Carshalton site local DWP teams have reached out and have invited all employees to a local recruitment event being held next week.

Whether her Department plans to establish a process for recognising assistant dogs that meet agreed national standards.

Assistance dogs are not funded or provided by the Government, and assistance dogs are not regulated or defined in law.There are well established dog training organisations which have international accreditation and are members of the umbrella coalition Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK). Following a Government initiative in 2017/18, a new charity was established - the Assistance Dogs Assessment Association (ADAA) - which offers a test and certificate for assistance dogs trained through sources without international accreditation. It is now possible for assistance dogs to be tested and certified as having reached a set standard, even where they are trained by a body without international accreditation.The Equality Act 2010 places a general duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled people, including people with assistance dogs, access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. Duties and protections under the Equality Act are ultimately enforceable through the courts, and anybody who thinks that they have been discriminated against - including where access to an assistance dog has been refused - can take legal action to seek to resolve the issue.The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act, and has published guidance on ‘Assistance Dogs: a guide for businesses and service providers’.

What estimate she has made of the potential cost to the public purse of the maintenance costs for the site that was formally the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People.

The former site of Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People in Leatherhead is not owned by a National Health Service trust, and therefore any maintenance costs will not be met by NHS maintenance budgets.We recognise the importance of providing funding for adult social care. The Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding to be made available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements.

How many patients have been recruited into studies of personalised cancer vaccines as part of the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad.

The NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP) is a platform set up to accelerate the development of cancer vaccines and speed up access to mRNA personalised cancer vaccine clinical trials for cancer patients. The 10-Year Health Plan, published in July 2025, commits to delivering 10,000 cancer vaccines to patients in clinical trials over this Parliament. To date, 350 patients have been recruited through the CVLP into a personalised vaccine clinical trial. These patients have then undergone further screening as part of the trial to assess their eligibility for the cancer vaccine.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of (a) available beds and (b) diagnostic equipment such as scanners per patient in hospitals across England.

Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working to expand urgent care capacity through neighbourhood health services and virtual wards, enabling patients to receive care closer to home where clinically appropriate and easing pressure on hospitals. In addition, investment in digital tools will improve patient flow and further reduce reliance on inpatient beds. We are also working to develop stronger partnerships between the National Health Service and social care to ensure that patients receive the services they need to support timely and effective hospital discharge and to prevent avoidable hospital admissions. The Department is also committed to increasing the number of surgical hubs, which will increase ringfenced elective capacity, providing greater protection from urgent and emergency care, improving outcomes for patients, and reducing pressures on hospitals. There are currently 123 surgical hubs operational across England.At a local level, decisions regarding the opening of additional beds to manage pressures are made by individual NHS trusts, in accordance with their operational requirements. The Department does not direct these decisions centrally.The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the 18-week constitutional standard by the end of this Parliament, including transforming and expand diagnostic services.We are expanding diagnostic services, including investing in new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanners in hospitals and community diagnostic centres (CDCs), as well as replacing some of the oldest CT and MRI scanners in the NHS estate. We have confirmed 13 new state-of-the-art DEXA scanners to support better bone care, delivering on the Government’s commitment in the Elective Reform Plan. These will allow for an extra 29,000 bone scans per year, benefitting tens of thousands of patients.This is backed as part of the 2025 Spending Review, which confirmed over £6 billion of additional capital investment over five years across new diagnostic, elective, and urgent care capacity. This includes £600 million in capital funding for diagnostics in 2025/26 to support delivery of the NHS performance standards. Further details and allocations will be set out in due course.We are also supporting the NHS to maximise existing diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services, including extending the hours CDCs are open. In August 2025, we announced that 100 CDCs were delivering much needed checks, tests, and scans 12 hours a day, seven days a week. These will reduce overall waiting times for treatment. Alongside this, NHS England is working to ensure MRI acceleration software is being rolled out across MRI scanners, including upgrading old scanners which are unable to utilise this new software and technology.