Written questions by McMurdock.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of implementing the Model Emergency Department guidance on patient outcomes.

The Model Emergency Department guidance, published in February 2026, sets out a consistent national framework describing the core principles and pathways of high-performing emergency departments. This is supported by guidance on extended emergency medicine ambulatory care services and the Model Acute Pathway, which sets out standards for the first 72 hours in hospital.The Department expects the guidance to support improved patient outcomes by enabling better patient flow, reducing waiting times and overcrowding, and supporting earlier senior decision-making, which are all associated with safer and more timely care.The guidance provides a shared national model to support greater consistency in urgent and emergency care provision, including clearer clinical pathways and more consistent approaches to ambulatory and acute care, while allowing flexibility for local health systems to tailor delivery to local need.NHS England is supporting implementation through national guidance, including companion operating principles, and by asking providers to develop improvement plans aligned to the Model Emergency Department, including demand and capacity modelling. Support is also targeted towards the most challenged organisations through oversight arrangements, improvement teams, and established improvement programmes.

What analysis he has carried out on the factors contributing to disparities in suicide rates in males and females.

Every suicide is a tragedy that has a devastating and enduring impact on families, friends, and communities. In England, men account for the majority of suicide deaths, and the male suicide rate is approximately three times higher than the female rate.That is why we are committed to delivering the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. The strategy highlights a set of priority groups for tailored and targeted support, including middle-aged men, and identifies key risk factors with strong links to suicide, such as financial difficulty, substance misuse, social isolation, harmful gambling, domestic abuse, and physical illness, and that can affect men and women differently. We will deliver a Suicide Prevention Pathfinders Programme for middle-aged men, a neighbourhood-based programme focused on improving outcomes, investing up to £3.6 million over three years for middle-aged men in areas where they are at greatest risk of taking their own lives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the British High Commission Islamabad press release entitled New UK-Pakistan partnership will bolster Pakistan’s Geological Survey, published on 16 April 2026, whether conditions were attached to UK support relating to (a) governance standards, (b) procurement processes and (c) anti-corruption measures.

I refer the Hon Member to the press release he mentions in his questions, which sets out in detail the purpose of this project.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of electric vehicle charging infrastructure availability in Basildon on consumer uptake of electric vehicles.

As of 1 January 2026, there were 97 public EV chargers in Basildon.South Basildon and East Thurrock is benefitting from over £10 million allocated to Essex County Council and Thurrock Council through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund. LEVI funding and private investment will significantly scale the number of public charge points near to homes, giving residents confidence to switch to an electric vehicle (EV). Under LEVI, Thurrock Council has awarded a contract to deliver up to 4,000 public EV chargers. Essex County Council are currently procuring a supplier.Essex and Thurrock have also received over £450,000 through the EV Pavement Channels Grant, which will support residents without off-street parking to conveniently charge their vehicles at home.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Basildon.

As of 1 January 2026, there were 97 public EV chargers in Basildon.South Basildon and East Thurrock is benefitting from over £10 million allocated to Essex County Council and Thurrock Council through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund. LEVI funding and private investment will significantly scale the number of public charge points near to homes, giving residents confidence to switch to an electric vehicle (EV). Under LEVI, Thurrock Council has awarded a contract to deliver up to 4,000 public EV chargers. Essex County Council are currently procuring a supplier.Essex and Thurrock have also received over £450,000 through the EV Pavement Channels Grant, which will support residents without off-street parking to conveniently charge their vehicles at home.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce ammonia emissions from intensive pig and poultry farming.

Large intensive pig and poultry farms with livestock place numbers above specified size thresholds are regulated under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. The operators of these farms must hold a permit which requires implementation of best available techniques to reduce pollutant emissions, including ammonia. Regulated premises are regularly inspected to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether deadlines were set by the Prime Minister for social media companies to implement additional online safety measures.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether representatives of regulators, including Ofcom, were present at the Downing Street meeting.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, what discussions Ministers have had with manufacturers not eligible for the scheme regarding their exclusion.

The Secretary of State and Ministers have had extensive and ongoing discussions with the manufacturing sector on electricity costs and UK competitiveness, both prior to and following the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). Scheme eligibility has been informed by wide stakeholder engagement, including a public consultation that received responses from industry bodies and individual businesses, including SMEs, alongside ministerial and official engagement with industry. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with businesses to support access to, and awareness of, the scheme and with businesses not eligible for BICS on energy costs and wider competitiveness issues.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, what commitments were made by social media companies during discussions with the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether any formal agreements or undertakings were reached between the Government and social media companies following the Downing Street meeting.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what proportion of funding will be delivered to Sudanese local aid organisations.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

With reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, which industry bodies and individual companies were consulted in determining eligibility criteria for the expanded scheme.

The Secretary of State and Ministers have had extensive and ongoing discussions with the manufacturing sector on electricity costs and UK competitiveness, both prior to and following the announcement of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). Scheme eligibility has been informed by wide stakeholder engagement, including a public consultation that received responses from industry bodies and individual businesses, including SMEs, alongside ministerial and official engagement with industry. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with businesses to support access to, and awareness of, the scheme and with businesses not eligible for BICS on energy costs and wider competitiveness issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current international funding levels for the Sudan crisis.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what safeguards are in place to ensure accountability and transparency in funding provided to local organisations.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, what issues were raised by the Prime Minister during his discussions with social media companies.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what assessment she has made of the capacity of local responders to deliver aid in conflict-affected areas.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether a record was kept of the discussions between the Prime Minister and social media companies.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled PM calls social media companies into Downing Street, published on 15 April 2026, whether enforcement mechanisms were discussed with social media companies in the event of non-compliance with the Prime Minister’s requests.

The Prime Minister hosted senior leaders from major social media companies in Downing Street to press for faster progress on protecting children online. He was clear that companies must be able to show real world changes that make their platforms safer for children. This meeting comes at the mid-point of the government’s consultation on children’s online wellbeing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK boosts funding to local responders to help more than 1.8 million people in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, published on 15 April 2026, what proportion of aid is expected to reach hard-to-access areas.

I refer the Hon. Member to the press release he has mentioned in his questions, and to the article written by the Foreign Secretary in The Telegraph on 15 April, which can be found in the link below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/the-world-can-no-longer-plead-ignorance-to-sudan-war/