Written questions by Maguire.

What steps she is taking to implement the recommendations of Dame Elizabeth Gloster's report entitled Report of the Independent Investigation into the Financial Conduct Authority’s Regulation of London Capital & Finance plc, published on 23 November 2020.

Dame Elizabeth Gloster made four recommendations to the government, which were all accepted. She recommended that the government review the allocation of ISA-related responsibilities between the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and HMRC. As announced in the government’s response to Dame Elizabeth’s report, HMRC and the FCA established an ISA Intelligence Working Group, which led to strengthened communication and information sharing between the two organisations. HMRC has also increased the level of compliance checks that it carries out on ISA products and managers. The government is also exploring whether the penalties regime for ISA managers is sufficiently robust to deter breaches of the ISA regulations. Dame Elizabeth recommended that the Treasury should consider whether Article 4 of MiFID or section 85 of FSMA should be extended to non-transferable securities. The government has legislated via the Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024 to bring previously unregulated non-transferrable debt securities, including minibonds, within scope of the new UK Prospectus regime. The FCA has published its final rules, and the new regime will commence in January 2026. She recommended that the Treasury and other relevant Government bodies should work with the FCA to ensure that the legislative framework enables the FCA to intervene promptly and effectively in the marketing and sale through technology platforms, and unregulated intermediaries, of speculative illiquid securities and similar retail products. The government and the FCA have taken action to strengthen the regulatory regime for financial promotions, including for high-risk investments. In addition, under the Online Safety Act 2023, large internet platforms will be required to put in place systems and controls to avoid fraudulent advertising appearing on those platforms. Finally, Dame Elizabeth recommended that the Treasury should consider the optimal scope of the FCA’s remit, recognising the broad range of responsibilities that it has. The government remains of the view that the UK’s financial regulatory framework – where the FCA has a strategic objective to ensure that relevant markets function well – is appropriate and functioning well. The government welcomes the steps that the FCA took to address Dame Elizabeth’s recommendations, and in particular the reform programme that it implemented in order to reflect and manage its wide remit. The government engages regularly with the FCA on issues relating to its regulatory perimeter and remit. Since 2021, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury (EST) has held a regular Perimeter Meeting with the FCA CEO to discuss the FCA’s Perimeter Report. The most recent meeting was on 24 March 2025. The minutes of these meetings are published and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hm-treasury-and-financial-conduct-authority-regulatory-perimeter-meetings The FCA also accepted all of Dame Elizabeth’s recommendations addressed to it, and has made significant changes as a result, including undertaking a comprehensive transformation programme to improve its practices and operational efficiency. The government and the FCA continue to work together closely to ensure that financial services are well regulated, and to address risks to consumers.

What information his Department holds on the percentage of GPs that have downloaded firearms marker software.

The role of general practitioners (GPs) in the firearms licensing process is set out in the Home Office’s publication Firearms licensing: statutory guidance for chief officers of police, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-guidance-for-police-on-firearms-licensingTo support their role, a digital marker, SNOMED activity coding, was fully rolled out across GP IT suppliers by May 2023, giving all GPs in England access within existing GP IT systems. GPs do not need to download a separate firearms marker software.We have not made an estimate of the proportion of firearm holders with a firearms marker on their patient records. This is because NHS England publishes an annual SNOMED report, which includes information on the number of times a relevant firearms code was added to GP patient records within the publication period. The report is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-snomed-code-usage-in-primary-care/2023-24It should be noted that a patient could have one code added to their record multiple times throughout the year, and therefore, it is not possible to infer the number of patients with a particular code from this data. We are exploring options for how this data can be analysed to support the use of the digital marker.This significant strengthening of the medical checks process aids GPs, or any other registered medical practitioners, in completing the application form for a person’s medical suitability for a firearms licence. The digital marker also alerts a GP if there is any concerning deterioration in a person’s health presented during the five year licence period that may impact their suitability to hold a firearms licence. GPs can now more easily alert their local police force when necessary, as the decision for who can grant and renew a firearms licence remains with the local police force.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the tightening of eligibility criteria for NHS Continuing Healthcare by Integrated Care Boards on disabled people's ability to (a) access and (b) remain in employment.

The Department is responsible for Continuing Healthcare (CHC) policy and legislation. We have provided statutory guidance, setting out clear processes for CHC, which all integrated care boards (ICBs) must have regard to. CHC is funded by ICBs, and it is for individual ICBs to make assessments and decisions in a consistent manner in line with their statutory duties and guidance. This guidance has not changed and ICBs are expected to maintain CHC delivery in line with their statutory duties. NHS England holds ICBs accountable and engages with them to ensure that they discharge their functions. This includes monitoring eligibility rates and undertaking detailed work to compare ICBs with similar demographics, including further investigation of outliers for drivers of variation.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the proportion of firearm holders with a firearms marker on their patient records.

The role of general practitioners (GPs) in the firearms licensing process is set out in the Home Office’s publication Firearms licensing: statutory guidance for chief officers of police, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-guidance-for-police-on-firearms-licensingTo support their role, a digital marker, SNOMED activity coding, was fully rolled out across GP IT suppliers by May 2023, giving all GPs in England access within existing GP IT systems. GPs do not need to download a separate firearms marker software.We have not made an estimate of the proportion of firearm holders with a firearms marker on their patient records. This is because NHS England publishes an annual SNOMED report, which includes information on the number of times a relevant firearms code was added to GP patient records within the publication period. The report is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-snomed-code-usage-in-primary-care/2023-24It should be noted that a patient could have one code added to their record multiple times throughout the year, and therefore, it is not possible to infer the number of patients with a particular code from this data. We are exploring options for how this data can be analysed to support the use of the digital marker.This significant strengthening of the medical checks process aids GPs, or any other registered medical practitioners, in completing the application form for a person’s medical suitability for a firearms licence. The digital marker also alerts a GP if there is any concerning deterioration in a person’s health presented during the five year licence period that may impact their suitability to hold a firearms licence. GPs can now more easily alert their local police force when necessary, as the decision for who can grant and renew a firearms licence remains with the local police force.

How many Work Capability Assessments for Employment and Support Allowance conducted via video call by Ingeus have been (a) delayed and (b) rescheduled due to technical issues in the last 12 months.

The department is committed to delivering health assessments that are accessible, efficient, and represent value for money. Video assessments, including those delivered by Ingeus, form part of a modernised service designed to improve flexibility and claimant experience. The department continues to monitor supplier performance and assess delivery models to ensure they meet contractual standards, providing a quality service to claimants and the best value for money for the taxpayer. To safeguard claimants, robust procedures are in place to mitigate the impact of any technical problems during video assessments. These may include prompt rescheduling of appointments or the consideration of an alternative assessment method if appropriate, ensuring that no claimant is disadvantaged due to circumstances beyond their control. The department remains focused on ensuring timely access to benefits for all eligible individuals. From the commencement of the Ingeus contract on 9 September 2024 to 21 July 2025, a total of 1,839 Work Capability Assessments for Employment and Support Allowance were completed via video. During the same period, 11 video assessment appointments were cancelled/rescheduled due to technical problems. These issues could include problems with broadband connectivity, DWP system issues such as the Medical Services Referral System (MSRS) or the Document Repository System (DRS) etc. Information on delays specifically caused by technical problems is not held.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of NICE’s severity modifier on access to new treatments for incurable secondary breast cancer.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for the methods and processes that it uses in the development of its recommendations. The severity modifier was introduced in January 2022 as part of a number of changes intended to make NICE’s methods fairer, faster, and more consistent.NICE carried out a review of the implementation of the severity modifier in September 2024 and found that it is operating as intended. This showed that the proportion of positive cancer recommendations is higher, at 84.8%, than with the end-of-life modifier it replaced, at 75%, and the proportion of positive recommendations for advanced cancer treatments is also higher, at 81.1% compared to 69%.Since January 2022, NICE has recommended all but one of the treatments for breast cancer that it has assessed. These treatments are now available to eligible National Health Service patients.NICE has commissioned research to gather further evidence on societal preferences that will inform future method reviews.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of NICE’s rejection of trastuzumab deruxtecan for use in secondary breast cancer treatment on patient outcomes.

Decisions on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service in England are made on the basis of recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) following 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 on the basis of the available evidence.NICE published guidance in July 2024 on the use of Enhertu for the treatment of HER-2 low metastatic and unresectable breast cancer and was unfortunately unable to recommend it for routine NHS funding. I understand that NICE and NHS England have sought to apply as much flexibility as they can in their considerations of Enhertu for HER2-low breast cancer and have made it clear to the companies that their pricing of the drug remains the only obstacle to access.Ministers met with the manufacturers of Enhertu, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, in November 2024, to encourage them to re-engage in commercial discussions with NHS England. Despite NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibilities, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. NICE’s guidance published in July 2024 will therefore remain unchanged. NICE has reassured me that the door remains open for the companies to enter into a new NICE appraisal if they are willing to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price.Since January 2022, NICE has recommended all but one of the treatments for breast cancer that it has assessed. These treatments are now available to eligible NHS patients.

What steps he is taking to ensure newly qualified nurses have pathways to gain clinical experience.

NHS England is working with employers, universities, and regional nursing leads to ensure that support is in place to help graduating nurses find a role as soon as possible after qualification and transition into the workplace.It is important that as part of their first roles, newly registered nurses are supported to embed their skills and integrate into their new team and place of work. Nursing preceptorships provide structured support for newly qualified nurses to do this as they transition into professional roles. The NHS England National Preceptorship Framework sets out that all newly qualified nurses should receive preceptorship in their first-year post-registration.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that Employment and Support Allowance claimants do not (a) lose entitlement or (b) face delays in the processing of their claim due to technical failures during outsourced Work Capability Assessments made by video call.

The department is committed to delivering health assessments that are accessible, efficient, and represent value for money. Video assessments, including those delivered by Ingeus, form part of a modernised service designed to improve flexibility and claimant experience. The department continues to monitor supplier performance and assess delivery models to ensure they meet contractual standards, providing a quality service to claimants and the best value for money for the taxpayer. To safeguard claimants, robust procedures are in place to mitigate the impact of any technical problems during video assessments. These may include prompt rescheduling of appointments or the consideration of an alternative assessment method if appropriate, ensuring that no claimant is disadvantaged due to circumstances beyond their control. The department remains focused on ensuring timely access to benefits for all eligible individuals. From the commencement of the Ingeus contract on 9 September 2024 to 21 July 2025, a total of 1,839 Work Capability Assessments for Employment and Support Allowance were completed via video. During the same period, 11 video assessment appointments were cancelled/rescheduled due to technical problems. These issues could include problems with broadband connectivity, DWP system issues such as the Medical Services Referral System (MSRS) or the Document Repository System (DRS) etc. Information on delays specifically caused by technical problems is not held.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that there is sufficient project delivery capacity within (a) the NHS and (b) supply chains to implement the New Hospital Programme.

Earlier this year, the New Hospital Programme (NHP) appointed a Health Delivery Partnership as its principal Programme Delivery Partner, which is working closely with the NHP to provide the expert technical skills needed to develop the infrastructure and programme delivery capability to support successful delivery.The NHP remains committed to strengthening its internal capacity, supported by a Knowledge and Skills Transfer Strategy aimed at embedding the self-sustaining knowledge and skills required to increase its in-house resource.Since 2021, the NHP has undertaken extensive market engagement with industry to build industry interest, assess current capacity, and understand key investment drivers. The NHP launched procurement for its bespoke Hospital 2.0 Alliance Framework, designed to establish a long-term, sustainable, and collaborative supply chain partnership and contracting model that will secure market appetite and investment.The NHP is currently engaging with industry on the Hospital 2.0 integrated system, particularly the technical requirements, specification, and designs. Three key industry sectors identified to focus on include: designers and architects; main works contactors; and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors.

What assessment he has made of the level of employment opportunities for newly qualified nurses in Surrey.

Decisions on the employment of newly qualified nurses are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts, which manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working closely with NHS England, employers, universities, and regional nursing leads to ensure support is in place to help graduating nurses find a role as soon as possible after qualification and transition into the workplace.

What mechanisms are in place to ensure (a) local community and (b) patient engagement in the (i) design and (ii) delivery of new NHS hospital infrastructure.

Hospital 2.0 is the New Hospital Programme’s (NHP) approach to standardising the design for future hospitals and has been designed and developed with people with lived and learnt experiences throughout the stages of the design process, from strategic outline business cases, early plans to commissioning, and full operationalisation. Stakeholders include National Health Service staff, NHS trusts, royal colleges, patients, and the public, as well as the supply chain. Over 1,300 clinicians, over 400 patients and lived experience partners, and 57 architects and designers have worked alongside subject matter experts to feed into the design process. This is to ensure that new hospitals will meet current and future healthcare needs, and that patients and staff are at the heart of its designs. The NHP works collaboratively with NHS England and trusts to ensure that the design of each hospital is right-sized for local circumstances and tailored to the needs of the local community. The NHP is currently embarking on another cycle of formal engagement workshops with key national stakeholders to showcase the current progress of Hospital 2.0 designs, with a workshop focussed on the patient and public perspectives. Outside the NHP, the majority of investment in new hospital infrastructure relates to works on part of a site or to renovation and maintenance, and so is subject to local design considerations. When healthcare services are relocated to a new site a formal process of consultation is followed. At a local level, integrated care boards are responsible for strategic infrastructure planning, managing the budget, and allocating funding according to local priorities in their area. Local systems have also developed infrastructure strategies to create a long-term plan for future estate requirements and investment for each local area and its needs.

What assessment her Department has made of the value for money of video call health assessments provided by Ingeus.

The department is committed to delivering health assessments that are accessible, efficient, and represent value for money. Video assessments, including those delivered by Ingeus, form part of a modernised service designed to improve flexibility and claimant experience. The department continues to monitor supplier performance and assess delivery models to ensure they meet contractual standards, providing a quality service to claimants and the best value for money for the taxpayer. To safeguard claimants, robust procedures are in place to mitigate the impact of any technical problems during video assessments. These may include prompt rescheduling of appointments or the consideration of an alternative assessment method if appropriate, ensuring that no claimant is disadvantaged due to circumstances beyond their control. The department remains focused on ensuring timely access to benefits for all eligible individuals. From the commencement of the Ingeus contract on 9 September 2024 to 21 July 2025, a total of 1,839 Work Capability Assessments for Employment and Support Allowance were completed via video. During the same period, 11 video assessment appointments were cancelled/rescheduled due to technical problems. These issues could include problems with broadband connectivity, DWP system issues such as the Medical Services Referral System (MSRS) or the Document Repository System (DRS) etc. Information on delays specifically caused by technical problems is not held.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the accessibility of band five nursing roles available to newly qualified nurses with (a) less than two years' experience, (b) between two and four years' experience and (c) over four years' experience.

Decisions about recruitment are a matter for individual National Health Service employers, who manage this at a local level to ensure they have the staff they need to deliver safe and effective care.NHS England is working with employers, universities, and regional nursing leads to ensure support is in place to help graduating nurses find a role as soon as possible after qualification and transition into the workplace.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on redress in circumstances where adding a storey to a property under permitted development regulations results in the blocking of the sun to pre-existing solar panels on an adjoining property.

My Department has not issued any such guidance.

What estimate her Department has made of the annual cost of uprating State Pensions for armed forces veterans living overseas by inflation in each of the next three financial years; how many armed forces veterans who receive the State Pension live overseas; what the average weekly amount received is; what the average weekly amount received would have been if it had been uprated by inflation in each of the last five years; and if he will make an estimate of what the cost to the public purse would have been of uprating these pensions by inflation in the 2024-25 financial year.

As of the quarter ending November 2024, latest available data show there were around 1.1 million recipients of the GB State Pension living overseas. Source: DWP Stat-Xplore The Department does not hold data identifying armed forces veterans in receipt of the State Pension, whether in GB or overseas.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support local authorities in their efforts to identify and remove traces of toxic lead in soil.

Lead is a naturally occurring element in soils due to the weathering of rocks and minerals, and elevated concentrations can result from historical industrial activity. The Government recognises the importance of managing land contamination to protect human health and the environment. Under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities have a statutory duty to inspect their areas to identify contaminated land. Defra supports local authorities in fulfilling their duties through the Contaminated Land Statutory Guidance, which sets out the legal framework for risk assessment and decision-making under Part 2A. In addition, the Land Contamination Risk Management (LCRM) framework, recently updated by the Environment Agency, provides technical guidance on assessing, managing and remediating land contamination in line with current best practice.

When the first contract with a Russian uranium supplier was signed for Sizewell B; what the value is of that contract; whether his Department has considered cancelling that contract; and what alternative supplies of uranium there are that could replace the uranium contracted from Russia.

The procurement of nuclear fuel is a commercial matter for reactor operators. The Government works closely with these operators to ensure a secure and resilient supply of nuclear fuel but does not routinely collect information relating to the contracts held by UK operators. This is commercially sensitive, and disclosure would be at the discretion of the operator. The Government has already committed to removing any Russian fuel and uranium supply to the UK by 2030. All reactor operators must comply with UK domestic and international legal obligations, including any sanctions or trade measures in place against Russian-origin uranium.

Whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the cost to the public purse of bringing pensions for Gurkha soldiers who retired before 1997 in line with the standard British Army pension.

The Government remains committed to supporting Gurkhas and their families during and after their service with the British Army, as demonstrated by the increase in funding via the Gurkha Welfare Trust, including a £24 million uplift to the medical and healthcare Grant-in-Aid already in place and an extension in principle to that Grant in Aid beyond 2029. We continue to hold discussions with the Government of Nepal and Gurkha Veteran representatives about what more could be done to meet the welfare needs of Gurkhas Veterans and their families, in both the UK and in Nepal. I have met with the Nepali Ambassador H.E. Chandra Ghimire for a productive discussion, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and addressing key concerns between Nepal and the UK. The Government view is that the Gurkha Pension Scheme is a fair scheme, and we are committed to providing Gurkha Veterans with a fair pension. The Gurkha Pension Scheme is different, but these differences are objectively and reasonably justified and reflect the circumstances of their service. One of the key differences is that those on the 1948 Gurkha Pension Scheme were paid an immediate pension after 15 years’ service, compared to after 22 years from the Armed Forces Pension.The lawfulness of the Gurkha Pension Scheme has been challenged in a number of judicial reviews since 2003, and the arrangements have been upheld as lawful by the Court of Appeal twice, and by the European Court of Human Rights. An estimate of the kind described has not been undertaken. However, it is the policy of His Majesty’s Government that improvements to public sector pensions in payment cannot be retrospectively applied. In this context, given that the Gurkha Pension Scheme is a closed scheme, this means that improvements to the pension terms cannot be made, because there are no active members to whom they could apply prospectively.

What information his Department holds on the proportion of imported uranium that originates from Russia.

The procurement of nuclear fuel is a commercial matter for reactor operators. The Government works closely with operators and the nuclear industry to ensure there is a secure, resilient supply for the UK fleet, but the requested information on the operators’ source of imported uranium is a commercial matter. Disclosure of this information is at the discretion of the responsible commercial entities. The Government has already committed to removing any Russian fuel and uranium supply to the UK by 2030. All reactor operators must comply with UK domestic and international legal obligations, including any sanctions or trade measures in place against Russian-origin uranium.