Written questions by Naish.

What data is collected on the prevalence of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in England; and how this data is being used to understand the condition.

The National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS) is part of the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) and NHS England. The NCARDRS aims to collect, curate, quality-assure, and analyse data from patients in England diagnosed and/or treated with rare conditions. Further information about the NCARDRS and the NDRS is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/about/ncardrshttps://digital.nhs.uk/ndrsOver the last five financial years, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has allocated £189,109 for research on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Research has focused on establishing evidence–based management of CRPS to improve clinical outcomes throughout the care pathway.There is a National Health Service conditions page dedicated to CRPS, detailing the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment pathway, which is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complex-regional-pain-syndrome/NHS England’s Genomics Education Programme and GeNotes resource provides concise information to help healthcare professionals make the right decisions at each stage of a clinical pathway. GeNotes also includes resources on non-genetic rare diseases, and work continues to expand the programme's coverage.

What NHS guidance and training is available to ensure Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is understood by medical professionals across England; and whether his Department plans to issue further guidance.

The National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS) is part of the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) and NHS England. The NCARDRS aims to collect, curate, quality-assure, and analyse data from patients in England diagnosed and/or treated with rare conditions. Further information about the NCARDRS and the NDRS is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/about/ncardrshttps://digital.nhs.uk/ndrsOver the last five financial years, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has allocated £189,109 for research on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Research has focused on establishing evidence–based management of CRPS to improve clinical outcomes throughout the care pathway.There is a National Health Service conditions page dedicated to CRPS, detailing the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment pathway, which is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complex-regional-pain-syndrome/NHS England’s Genomics Education Programme and GeNotes resource provides concise information to help healthcare professionals make the right decisions at each stage of a clinical pathway. GeNotes also includes resources on non-genetic rare diseases, and work continues to expand the programme's coverage.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of necessary vaccinations to support the government’s commitments regarding biosecurity and animal health.

Defra is aware that the new government has inherited ongoing issues with the availability of some veterinary vaccines, and concerns regarding potential detrimental impacts on animal health and welfare. In the short term, Defra helps facilitate the use of alternative products via a special imports scheme that enables vets to access vaccines authorised outside of the UK. Defra held a roundtable with the pharmaceutical industry and stakeholders on 11 February 2025 where it was announced that work with wider stakeholders to develop and publish an action plan will be prioritised and launched this year. This is supported by Baroness Hayman, who is keen that the UK becomes a global leader in veterinary vaccines.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason 31 councils were granted Transitional Provisions under The Environment Act 2021 (Commencement No. 9 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024.

We have set out that every local authority will be required to collect food waste for recycling by 31 March 2026. In some exceptional circumstances, certain local authorities may need longer to implement separate food waste collections for households due to long-term waste disposal contracts that run beyond 31 March 2026. We engaged extensively with affected local authorities and required that they provide evidence that their waste disposal contract presents an unavoidable barrier to the introduction of food waste collections by 31 March 2026. We will continue to work with local authorities to identify whether they can bring forward food waste collections and the associated benefits before the end of their transitional arrangement.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the readiness of UK agencies to respond in the event of a Foot and Mouth outbreak.

All exotic disease control and prevention measures are kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of exotic disease. The framework for this is set out in the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England, supported by the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain. Current Government policy reflects our experience of responding to past outbreaks of exotic animal disease and is in line with international standards of best practice for disease control. The Animal and Plant Health Agency, APHA, leads government action on animal disease control and has outbreak response plans in place. When outbreaks of FMD or other exotic notifiable disease occur Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) stand up their well-established outbreak structures to control and eradicate disease, restore normal trade, and assist local communities’ recovery. These include measures to contract companies to support eradication and provide additional veterinary capacity. Response times are kept under regular review, and APHA is in the planning stages of a national exercise to test and validate our response to an outbreak of FMD, scheduled for 2025/26.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many veterinarians or veterinary experts were employed by Animal and Plant Health Agency in each of the last five years.

The following table shows the number of veterinary roles in the Animal and Plant Health Agency in England, Scotland and Wales. These include veterinary roles in science, field and service delivery, and veterinary advice. Year (January)Number of veterinary staff in APHA20253462024337202332620223162021367

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the provisions of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 forbidding the handling of chickens by their legs on farms and during transportation and loading are followed.

The Government is firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and wants to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. Having reviewed the advice and recommendations in the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the welfare implications of different methods and systems for the catching, carrying, collecting and loading of poultry, the Government is considering next steps and will announce these in due course.

Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to take steps to support small businesses whose intellectual property and trademarks are being challenged by large corporate firms; and to if he will make an assessment of whether legal fees for small businesses subjected to such unmeritorious claims should be routinely paid by the applicant where cases are successfully defended at Intellectual Property Office hearings.

The Government recognises the challenges faced by small businesses who become involved in litigation. Small businesses and unrepresented parties litigating at the IPO Tribunal have high levels of support available, including being able to email or phone expert staff directly, who can provide explanations and assistance. The Tribunal routinely awards costs in favour of the winning party, considering the merits of the case and the conduct of the parties. Costs are usually awarded on a standard scale but larger costs awards are made where appropriate. Claims which are totally without merit can also be struck out at an early stage.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of developing high-temperature superconducting magnet technology in the UK.

High Temperature Superconducting magnets will not only be critical for fusion energy machines such as STEP, but have potential to revolutionise aviation, trains, marine propulsion, medical scanners, wind turbines, materials processing, big science facilities, and more. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the UK Atomic Energy Authority, and the private sector, to support the establishment and growth of the UK’s HTS magnet capabilities, to capture the benefits of this growing market, and ultimately enable the delivery of commercially viable fusion energy.

If he will take steps to support the fusion energy sector to commercialise its technologies.

On 16 January 2025, the Government announced a record £410m for fusion R&D to fund world leading new facilities and provide support for the UK’s thriving industry and skill provision across the UK. The Government is supporting rapid development of the fusion energy sector, investing in cutting edge research capabilities and facilities, and implementing a proportionate regulatory framework to cement the UK as a global hub for fusion investment and commercialisation. This includes the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) prototype fusion energy power plant which aims to prove the viability of commercial fusion and catalyse fusion sector development.

What research his Department is undertaking on the (a) causes, (b) symptoms and (c) treatment for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

The National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS) is part of the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), and NHS England. The NCARDRS aims to collect, curate, quality-assure, and analyse data from patients in England diagnosed and/or treated with rare conditions. Further information on the NCARDRS and the NDRS is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/about/ncardrshttps://digital.nhs.uk/ndrsOver the last five financial years, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has allocated £189,109 for research on complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Research has focused on establishing evidence-based management of CRPS to improve clinical outcomes throughout the care pathway. There is a National Health Service conditions page dedicated to CRPS, detailing the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis and treatment pathway, available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complex-regional-pain-syndrome/NHS England’s Genomics Education Programme and the GeNotes resource provides concise information to help healthcare professionals make the right decisions at each stage of a clinical pathway. GeNotes also includes resources on non-genetic rare diseases, and work continues to expand the programme's coverage.

What NHS guidance and training is (a) in place and (b) being put in place to ensure Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is understood by medical professionals across England.

The National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS) is part of the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), and NHS England. The NCARDRS aims to collect, curate, quality-assure, and analyse data from patients in England diagnosed and/or treated with rare conditions. Further information on the NCARDRS and the NDRS is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/about/ncardrshttps://digital.nhs.uk/ndrsOver the last five financial years, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has allocated £189,109 for research on complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Research has focused on establishing evidence-based management of CRPS to improve clinical outcomes throughout the care pathway. There is a National Health Service conditions page dedicated to CRPS, detailing the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis and treatment pathway, available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complex-regional-pain-syndrome/NHS England’s Genomics Education Programme and the GeNotes resource provides concise information to help healthcare professionals make the right decisions at each stage of a clinical pathway. GeNotes also includes resources on non-genetic rare diseases, and work continues to expand the programme's coverage.

What data is collected on the prevalence of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in England; and how this data is being used to understand the condition.

The National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS) is part of the National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), and NHS England. The NCARDRS aims to collect, curate, quality-assure, and analyse data from patients in England diagnosed and/or treated with rare conditions. Further information on the NCARDRS and the NDRS is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/about/ncardrshttps://digital.nhs.uk/ndrsOver the last five financial years, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has allocated £189,109 for research on complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Research has focused on establishing evidence-based management of CRPS to improve clinical outcomes throughout the care pathway. There is a National Health Service conditions page dedicated to CRPS, detailing the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis and treatment pathway, available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complex-regional-pain-syndrome/NHS England’s Genomics Education Programme and the GeNotes resource provides concise information to help healthcare professionals make the right decisions at each stage of a clinical pathway. GeNotes also includes resources on non-genetic rare diseases, and work continues to expand the programme's coverage.

How much additional funding her Department has allocated to Nottinghamshire County Council for special educational needs provision following the Autumn Budget 2024.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.Following the Autumn Budget 2024, the department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Nottinghamshire County Council is being allocated over £130 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £10.8 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula (NFF). This NFF allocation is an 8.6% increase per head of their 2 to 18-year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations for both grants for 2025/26 will be published in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of councils have (a) applied for and (b) received exemptions from food waste processing under the Simpler Recycling’s mandatory food waste collection requirements, due to commence between 2025-2027.

We have set out that every local authority will be required to collect food waste for recycling by 31 March 2026. Commencement regulations named a total of 31 local authorities that were provided with a bespoke transitional arrangement, delaying food waste collection requirements. It was deemed that these local authorities needed longer to implement separate food waste collections for households due to barriers presented by long-term residual waste disposal contracts that run beyond 31 March 2026. We engaged extensively with affected local authorities. Where the evidence demonstrated that existing long-term waste disposal contracts presented an unavoidable barrier to the introduction of food waste collections by 31 March 2026, transitional arrangements were provided by Defra. We will continue to work with local authorities to identify whether they can bring forward food waste collections and the associated benefits before the end of their bespoke transitional arrangement.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the Government’s plan to convert empty classrooms into school-based nurseries to include dedicated, small-scale SEND provision in geographies where formal SEND school places are limited and heavily oversubscribed.

This government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. Many mainstream settings are already going above and beyond to deliver specialist provision locally, including through resourced provision and special educational needs units.The department provides local authorities with capital funding to support them to meet their statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities or who require alternative provision. In December my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations (HNPCA) for the 2025/26 financial year.This funding can be used to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings, and to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings. Local authorities are best placed to make decisions about how they spend this funding, and they may invest in creating new provision in currently empty classrooms where that is appropriate to address their local needs.The department expects to publish local authorities’ individual HNPCA allocations for the 2025/26 financial year in the spring.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of steps to help local authorities to reduce SEND-related travel costs.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Rushcliffe to the answer of 27 December 2024 to Question HL3510.

What support is available for dental practices to (a) relocate to and (b) open new practices in underserved areas.

Dental practices are private businesses and therefore able to decide how they operate. It is their own responsibility to secure dental premises. The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For Rushcliffe constituency, this is Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB.The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.Integrated Care Boards have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years. As of 10 February 2025, in England, 35 dentists were recruited and in post, a further 33 dentists were recruited but yet to start in post, and a further 249 posts are currently advertised.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of having a teaching qualification from an English university on the ability of a British National (Overseas) visa holder to gain Qualified Teacher Status in the UK.

Since February 2023, eligible teachers who trained in an increased number of overseas countries, including Hong Kong, have been able to apply for qualified teacher status (QTS) through our new digital service if they meet the robust criteria.This recognition process is designed to assess the qualifications, professional standing and experience of teachers who trained overseas, rather than those who have qualifications from institutions in England.English teacher training courses that meet our quality requirements and are offered by an accredited provider lead to QTS. As the qualification your constituent presented did not lead to QTS and has not been gained overseas, it cannot be considered for recognition.There are several other routes available for experienced teachers to gain QTS, including the assessment only route. This allows teachers to demonstrate that they already meet all the teachers‘ standards, without the need for any further training. Teachers need to present detailed evidence and their teaching is assessed in a school by an accredited and approved provider.If my hon. Friend, the Member for Rushcliffe has further questions about the eligibility criteria, he may find it helpful to contact the Teaching Regulation Agency directly via QTS.enquiries@education.gov.uk.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure equitable parking enforcement debt collection practices.

To ensure an enforcement regime that is fair and proportionate, the Department for Transport published the ‘Statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions’, which sets out the appropriate debt collection practices together with links to the applicable legislation. Local authorities in England with civil parking enforcement powers must have regard to this statutory guidance under Section 87 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. Matters relating to private parking and local authority operated off-street car parks are the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.