Written questions by Morgan.

How much Government funding has been provided to hospices in each year since 2015.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life, and their loved ones.The Department does not hold specific data regarding hospice funding for each year. Individual ICBs oversee and maintain records of these transactions.Additionally, the amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on the demand in that ICB area, but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.

If his Department will take steps to discover the full extent of health issues in aircrew exposed to (a) fuel and (b) exhaust fumes from helicopters.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to the health and wellbeing of our people. The Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) was previously tasked to review independently the evidence base for causality between Sea King helicopter exhaust fumes and rare cancers. The report by the IMEG concluded that the evidence did not meet internationally adopted criteria for causation of these rare cancers. The Department will continue to monitor medical evidence and respond accordingly.

What steps his Department is taking to protect aircrew members from exposure to helicopter (a) fuel and (b) exhaust fumes.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in relation to common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes. As of the 14 November 2024 there are six related, continuing common law compensation claims. The department is in the process of testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters, including Chinook and Puma to ensure we are meeting our duty of care for personnel. It is essential that we can assure our people of their safety at work. The Westland Sea king was retired in 2018. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of (a) Sea King (b) Westland Wessex (c) Puma and (d) CH-47 Chinook helicopters on air quality in areas with high helicopter air traffic.

Neither the Sea King nor Westland Wessex remain in service with the Ministry of Defence. They were retired in 2018 and 2003 respectively. We do not believe that there is an increased risk to air quality from Puma and Chinook helicopters. However, we fully recognise the importance of acting on safety concerns. As such, the department has begun work to initiate a programme of engine exhaust emissions substance monitoring for in service helicopters in accordance with Health and Safety Executive approved methods.

Whether he has had discussions with his (a) German and (b) Dutch counterpart on longer exhausts in (a) CH-47 Chinook, (b) Puma, (c) Sea King and (d) Westland Wessex helicopters.

We have found no record of any discussions with Dutch or German counterparts regarding longer exhausts on Chinook and Puma aircraft. The German military does not operate Chinook nor Puma helicopters. The Netherlands does not operate Puma helicopters. Due to their out of service dates of 2003 and 2018, no relevant information is held within Ministry of Defence relating to Sea King and Wessex helicopters; however, the Netherlands did not operate Sea King helicopters and neither country operated the Wessex.

What the highest individual settlement paid to an aircrew member has been for the impact of helicopter exhaust fume exposure in each of the last five years.

In the last five financial years, damages have been paid in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2023-24 to former aircrew who have made common law compensation claims alleging adverse impacts of helicopter exhaust fumes. I have concerns that disclosing individual damages awards risks revealing the identity of individual claimants and I am, therefore, withholding the individual settlements under Freedom of Information Act Section 40(2) to protect personal information as governed by the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.

What plans she has to ensure step-free access to Whitchurch Railway Station.

The Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.Given the short time since the general election, I regret I am not yet able to comment on next steps regarding specific stations including Whitchurch station. We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme and we will provide updates to MPs and other stakeholders in due course.

Whether her Department made an assessment of Shropshire Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan before deciding the authority’s 2025-26 funding.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Shropshire Council has been allocated £4.4 million of this funding.As the Secretary of State noted in her oral statement to the House of Commons on 18 November, funding for local authorities has been allocated based on local needs, including population, the distance that buses travel, and levels of deprivation.

Whether her Department took into account the scale of the reduction in bus miles in each authority area over the past five years when allocating Bus Service Improvement Plan funding for 2025-26.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Shropshire Council has been allocated £4.4 million of this funding.As the Secretary of State noted in her oral statement to the House of Commons on 18 November, funding for local authorities has been allocated based on local needs, including population, the distance that buses travel, and levels of deprivation.

If her Department will publish the criteria used to decide the bus service improvement plan funding allocations for 2025-26.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Shropshire Council has been allocated £4.4 million of this funding.As the Secretary of State noted in her oral statement to the House of Commons on 18 November, funding for local authorities has been allocated based on local needs, including population, the distance that buses travel, and levels of deprivation.

How many legal claims made against his Department in relation to the impact of aircrew’s exposure to helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were outstanding on 14 November 2024.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in relation to common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes. As of the 14 November 2024 there are six related, continuing common law compensation claims. The department is in the process of testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters, including Chinook and Puma to ensure we are meeting our duty of care for personnel. It is essential that we can assure our people of their safety at work. The Westland Sea king was retired in 2018. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003.

When his Department first became aware of the potential link between long exposure to exhaust fumes from helicopters used by the Armed Forces and the risk of cancer.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in relation to common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes. As of the 14 November 2024 there are six related, continuing common law compensation claims. The department is in the process of testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters, including Chinook and Puma to ensure we are meeting our duty of care for personnel. It is essential that we can assure our people of their safety at work. The Westland Sea king was retired in 2018. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of exposure to (a) Sea King (b) Westland Wessex (c) Puma and (d) CH-47 Chinook helicopter (i) fuel and (ii) exhaust fumes on aircrew’s (A) health and (B) risk of developing cancer.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in relation to common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes. As of the 14 November 2024 there are seven related, continuing common law compensation claims. The department is in the process of testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters, including Chinook and Puma to ensure we are meeting our duty of care for personnel. It is essential that we can assure our people of their safety at work. The Westland Sea king was retired in 2018. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003.

How many compensation payments have been made by his Department for health issues relating to Armed Forces helicopters since 23 April 2023; and what was the total value of those payments.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in relation to common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes. As of the 14 November 2024 there are six related, continuing common law compensation claims. The department is in the process of testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters, including Chinook and Puma to ensure we are meeting our duty of care for personnel. It is essential that we can assure our people of their safety at work. The Westland Sea king was retired in 2018. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003.

What steps his Department is taking to help promote UK vaccine development.

Vaccines are critical for preventing infectious diseases, and lessening their impact. Vaccine development ensures that the United Kingdom remains on the cutting edge of technological advancements, and is able to respond to new and emerging disease risks. The Department’s work on vaccine development aligns with the Biological Security Strategy, which seeks to ensure that the UK is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats and is a world leader in responsible innovation by 2030. It also contributes to the 100 Days Mission, a global mission to have safe and effective diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines in the first 100 days of a pandemic. The Department promotes UK vaccine development through a variety of mechanisms, including:investing in innovative research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research and its infrastructure, which actively supports the development of new interventions to prevent disease, including research for the whole of the national immunisation programme;funding the UK Vaccine Network’s (UKVN) research projects into vaccines and vaccine technology that could prevent and respond to epidemics in low- and middle-income countries, with research innovations developed through this project having the potential to also promote the development of vaccine technologies with domestic applications, with, for example, the UKVN’s funding for a Middle East respiratory syndrome vaccine being rapidly adapted to develop the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine;funding the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which aims to accelerate development of vaccines against epidemic and pandemic threats and to enable equitable access to these vaccines globally, with the UK having committed to provide £160 million in support for the CEPI over five years at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit in March 2022;establishing the UK Health Security Agency’s Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre to strengthen UK research and develop vaccines against the world’s deadliest pathogens;investing in the Moderna Strategic Partnership, through which Moderna has invested in mRNA research and development in the UK and is building a state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing centre with the ability to produce up to 250 million vaccines a year; andassessing bids into the Government’s Life Sciences Innovation Manufacturing Fund, announced on 30 October 2024, which will provide up to £520 million in capital grants to help the UK’s medicines manufacturers grow and innovate.

What assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious accidents on roads in Shropshire.

This Government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing our road safety strategy and will set out more details in due course. Local government is the main delivery agent of road safety. The responsibility to implement, fund, deliver, promote and enforce local road safety initiatives remains with the Local Authorities under the 1988 Road Traffic Act. It is for the local council to decide what measures may be appropriate in their local area to “take steps both to reduce and prevent accidents”. Local authorities are also responsible for the management of local roads, within the rules set by Government, including setting local speed limits where the national limit would not be appropriate.In Shropshire, the Department for Transport has funded two road safety schemes as part of the Safer Roads Fund, the A5191 and the A529, aiming to reduce risk on England’s most high risk ‘A’ roads.

What discussions he has had with health charities on the potential impact of increases in levels of employers' national insurance contributions on those charities.

Ministers and officials meet regularly with health and care charities to discuss a variety of issues.To repair public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance. On the impact on charities in particular, our tax regime for charities, including exemption from paying business rates, is among the most generous of anywhere in the world, with tax reliefs for charities and their donors worth just over £6 billion for the tax year to April 2024.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of an increase in employers national insurance contributions on dental practices' finances.

No assessments have been made yet on the potential impact of an increase in employers National Insurance Contributions on dental practices’ finances.The employer National Insurance rise will be implemented April 2025, and the Department will set out further details on the allocation of funding for next year in due course.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Accelerating Reform Fund in innovating the social care sector.

The Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) aims to address barriers to the adoption and scaling of innovation in adult social care and improve support for unpaid carers. Local authorities are supported to take forward locally identified innovative projects, working collaboratively with other local authorities, the National Health Service, care providers, and voluntary and community organisations in their integrated care system footprints.An independent national evaluation by Ipsos aims to improve the evidence base on the impact of funded innovations, as well as assessing the success of the fund in overcoming barriers to, and creating the conditions for, innovation.Emerging evidence suggests the ARF is encouraging more innovative activities in adult social care. The evaluation will continue to assess the effectiveness of the ARF through the lifecycle of the fund, concluding in June 2025.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UKRI funding in helping innovative projects scale-up.

Criteria assessing the impact and effectiveness of UKRI funding to support scale-up of innovative projects are consistently tracked through the UKRI Commercialisation Monitoring Framework, as well as Innovate UK’s Impact Management Framework.All evaluations are published on UKRI’s website and are used to inform future approach and investments.