Written questions by McMurdock.

What the average waiting time is for a dementia assessment in Essex.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Guide to the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme, published in January 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential for increased rail freight usage at East Tilbury as a result of the scheme; and the potential impact this will have on average daily gate downtime at East Tilbury train station.

The Department for Transport does not collect information about MSRS-supported freight movements via station. The scheme divides Great Britain into 18 zones. Zone 1 covers East Tilbury station. The Department has not undertaken an assessment of capacity at, or the impact of MSRS-supported flows on, East Tilbury station. However, the published MSRS scheme guidance makes clear that there is scope to support eligible freight flows originating from or operating through Zone 1. Department officials will hold formal reviews with grant recipients over the financial year to assess the performance of each funded freight flow and whether adjustments to payments are needed; this includes taking into consideration route capacity issues raised by grant recipients. The MSRS continues to support freight movement near East Tilbury station and London Gateway, with 10 freight flows supported in 2026/27 with a total grant award of £6.9m.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to consult on the future use of carbon dioxide gas as a method of slaughtering pigs.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to reduce levels of work-related stress across the NHS workforce.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to ensure adequate staffing levels in community hospitals in Essex.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to ensure that NHS organisations have access to the necessary equipment to deliver effective care.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Guide to the Mode Shift Revenue Support Scheme, published in January 2026, what criteria are used to determine value for money in awarding grants; and how those criteria are weighted in funding decisions.

Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) grants are awarded through a competitive bid round process, and applications are prioritised based on their value for money using a cost-benefit ratio. Those schemes which deliver the greatest value are most likely to succeed. Individual freight grants are capped by the estimated Mode Shift Benefit Values (MSBs) and by financial need. The MSBs are an estimate of the economic, environmental and other social benefits of removing one lorry mile of freight from the road and transferring it to rail or water. Financial need is the difference between the total cost of the rail or water-based solution and the total cost that would be incurred if the freight were moved by road. The value of grant cannot exceed 30% of the total rail costs or the total cost of inland waterway transport. The grant also cannot exceed 50% of the environmental benefit.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of line management within the NHS in supporting staff to identify and resolve workplace issues.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Guide to the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) Scheme, published in January 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the long-term financial sustainability of freight flows supported by the scheme once grant funding ends.

The Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) scheme assists companies with the operating costs associated with running rail or inland water freight transport operations instead of using road transport operations, where rail or inland waterway transport is more expensive. The department does not assess the long-term financial sustainability of freight flows through the scheme. The department is currently evaluating the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) scheme, with a view to determining how best to support freight and logistics businesses in shifting freight between transport modes once the scheme expires on 31 March 2027. Financial sustainability will be considered when determining this support.

What plans he has for community hospitals to deliver urgent and primary care services.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current early language interventions in supporting children with developmental language disorder.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking to improve early identification of children with Developmental Language Disorder in early years settings.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the extent to which treatable medical conditions linked to miscarriage are being identified at an early stage under existing NHS miscarriage care pathways.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions he has had with NHS England on standardising miscarriage care pathways across England.

No discussions on this issue have taken place to date between NHS England and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. However, we remain committed to driving improvement in the care received by women and families through the pending national action plan, overseen by the Government’s maternity and neonatal taskforce.We welcome the report from Tommy’s Miscarriage Centre at Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital on the effectiveness of their graded model of sporadic or recurrent miscarriage care pilot. In the Women’s Health Strategy, we have committed to carefully considering their findings, working closely with our partners.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of police resources dedicated to tackling organised crime operating through small retail businesses.

We are fully committed to tackling criminality on the high street from illegitimate businesses. It is for this reason that the Home Office, working with the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government, has established a cross-government Taskforce to develop a strategic policy response to money laundering and associated illegality on UK high streets. This effort is underpinned by £10 million per year for three years, as announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget. This funding will be used to enhance support for at least 45 additional law enforcement officers, and enhancements to Trading Standards. As part of this uplift the Taskforce is considering how to enhance police and local authority coordination.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of (a) staffing and (b) resources of Early Pregnancy Units to deliver improved miscarriage care.

Awaiting answer.

What plans she has to include specialists with expertise in Development Language Disorder in the development of specialist provision frameworks.

Awaiting answer.

What information his Department holds on the number of women in England who experienced (a) one, (b) two and (c) three or more miscarriages in each of the last five years.

Awaiting answer.

What plans his Department has to review NHS guidance on the provision of miscarriage care following a (a) first and (b) second pregnancy loss.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to help improve coordination between police forces and local authorities to tackle criminal enterprises operating through high street businesses.

We are fully committed to tackling criminality on the high street from illegitimate businesses. It is for this reason that the Home Office, working with the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government, has established a cross-government Taskforce to develop a strategic policy response to money laundering and associated illegality on UK high streets. This effort is underpinned by £10 million per year for three years, as announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget. This funding will be used to enhance support for at least 45 additional law enforcement officers, and enhancements to Trading Standards. As part of this uplift the Taskforce is considering how to enhance police and local authority coordination.